A Prius prototype ?

Spectra · 03-21-2008, 04:48 PM

Here's a curiosity of Prius history --
I found this set of photos on the website at bottom ...

Sorry, it's the best clarity I could get, & it looks like a 'hybrid' of the "Classic" & "HSD" Prii. Maybe a design that was tossed around back at the end of the 20th century. (web page is dated 1998)

Or, perhaps the love child of a 1979 Hundyai Excel & a 1983 Yugo.

http://www.geocities.com/battcar2001/battcar/Prius.htm

Rae Vynn · 03-21-2008, 05:39 PM

Dat's cute

**Tideland Prius** · 03-22-2008, 12:54 AM

Yeah the beige/black one is the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show Prototype that had a energy storage system or something. (i.e. they didn't want to use the word hybrid)

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 03-22-2008, 02:46 AM

Is it just me, or does that 'Prius Prototype' look like the offspring of a unholy union of a Prius and an AMC Pacer?

It's even the same color.

Revenge of the nerd cars - BusinessWeek.com - MSNBC.com

ken1784 · 03-22-2008, 04:36 AM

It is Prius concept introduced at 1995 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Fifth Toyota Environmental Forum
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/k_forum/tenji/pdf/017e.pdf
It was parallel hybrid (single motor like Honda IMA) powered by super capacitor.

The THS (two MG's with PSD) development had already started then, and I think it was Toyota's fake announcement to confusing other car manufacturers telling them Toyota's hybrid direction to others.

Ken@Japan

bredekamp · 03-23-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sufferin' Prius Envy

Is it just me, or does that 'Prius Prototype' look like the offspring of a unholy union of a Prius and an AMC Pacer?

It's even the same color.

Revenge of the nerd cars - BusinessWeek.com - MSNBC.com

I know its' dorky and so am I, but I like that rear window...makes we wanna redo my kitchen in orange melaminine, buy shag carpets and listen to ABBA on LP. ah the 70's...

Presto · 03-23-2008, 08:14 PM

Wow... geocities.... blast from the past!

03-21-2008, 04:48 PM	#1
Spectra Amphi-Prius Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: S NJ Posts: 2,932 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Friends: 5	A Prius prototype ? Here's a curiosity of Prius history -- I found this set of photos on the website at bottom ... Sorry, it's the best clarity I could get, & it looks like a 'hybrid' of the "Classic" & "HSD" Prii. Maybe a design that was tossed around back at the end of the 20th century. (web page is dated 1998) Or, perhaps the love child of a 1979 Hundyai Excel & a 1983 Yugo. http://www.geocities.com/battcar2001/battcar/Prius.htm

03-21-2008, 05:39 PM	#2
Rae Vynn Tree-hugging Vegan Witch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grays Harbor, WA, USA Posts: 4,154 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 258 Thanked 60 Times in 50 Posts Friends: 66	Re: A Prius prototype ? Dat's cute

03-22-2008, 12:54 AM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,606 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 227 Thanked 343 Times in 242 Posts Friends: 23	Re: A Prius prototype ? Yeah the beige/black one is the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show Prototype that had a energy storage system or something. (i.e. they didn't want to use the word hybrid)

03-22-2008, 02:46 AM	#4
Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 4,012 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: A Prius prototype ? Is it just me, or does that 'Prius Prototype' look like the offspring of a unholy union of a Prius and an AMC Pacer? It's even the same color. Revenge of the nerd cars - BusinessWeek.com - MSNBC.com

03-22-2008, 04:36 AM	#5
ken1784 SuperMID designer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yokohama, JAPAN Posts: 1,989 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: G Thanks: 10 Thanked 273 Times in 125 Posts Friends: 8	Re: A Prius prototype ? It is Prius concept introduced at 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. The Fifth Toyota Environmental Forum http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/k_forum/tenji/pdf/017e.pdf It was parallel hybrid (single motor like Honda IMA) powered by super capacitor. The THS (two MG's with PSD) development had already started then, and I think it was Toyota's fake announcement to confusing other car manufacturers telling them Toyota's hybrid direction to others. Ken@Japan Last edited by ken1784; 03-22-2008 at 04:47 AM.

03-23-2008, 08:14 PM	#7
Presto Has his homepage set to PC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,257 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 3	Re: A Prius prototype ? Wow... geocities.... blast from the past!