2009 Prius Details

[fan-atic]

The 2009 Prius is supposed to have a turbocharged 1.8L engine. Does anyone know if the turbocharging has to be on full time, or is it just there when extra power is needed?

Also, it seems to me that the Lexus-style transmission will have to become standard for the Prius in 2009. The present transmission is elegant (I count 7 moving parts), but adding two choices for the MG2 gear ratio seems to extend the power range of the motor while making it smaller. They also claim a FE advantage since the motor path is used less at highway speed. Anyone have some insight into this?

[Tech_Guy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fan-atic @ Apr 20 2007, 07:32 AM) [snapback]426697[/snapback]</div>

The 2009 Prius is supposed to have a turbocharged 1.8L engine. Does anyone know if the turbocharging has to be on full time, or is it just there when extra power is needed?

Also, it seems to me that the Lexus-style transmission will have to become standard for the Prius in 2009. The present transmission is elegant (I count 7 moving parts), but adding two choices for the MG2 gear ratio seems to extend the power range of the motor while making it smaller. They also claim a FE advantage since the motor path is used less at highway speed. Anyone have some insight into this?
[/b]

We'll just have to wait and see what Toyota really delivers. There are a lot of rumors on new features, functionality, and specifications.....

Keith

[Tideland Prius]

I wouldn't bet on the turbocharging. For one, the turbo needs to be cooled and that's not gonna happen if the engine's off.

I will bet on the 1.8 litre though (although 1.6 litre is more likely) because Toyota has just released a new set of ZR engines for the Corolla (1.6 and 1.8 litre form) and they have dual VVT-i. Just add direct injection and stepless variable valve timing and you'll have a pretty efficient engine (the 1.6 litre might even do better in power and efficiency than our 1.5 litre).

[fan-atic]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 20 2007, 12:49 PM) [snapback]426846[/snapback]</div>

I wouldn't bet on the turbocharging. For one, the turbo needs to be cooled and that's not gonna happen if the engine's off.

I will bet on the 1.8 litre though (although 1.6 litre is more likely) because Toyota has just released a new set of ZR engines for the Corolla (1.6 and 1.8 litre form) and they have dual VVT-i. Just add direct injection and stepless variable valve timing and you'll have a pretty efficient engine (the 1.6 litre might even do better in power and efficiency than our 1.5 litre).
[/b]

Hi Tideland,
What about supercharging? Everything else on the Prius is electric, so why not an electric compressor? I'm just trying to see where this turbocharging rumor leads... If the higher compression is just for 0-60 time marketing and would be normally turned off, then I see a reason for doing it.

[Tideland Prius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fan-atic @ Apr 20 2007, 03:55 PM) [snapback]427034[/snapback]</div>

Hi Tideland,
What about supercharging? Everything else on the Prius is electric, so why not an electric compressor? I'm just trying to see where this turbocharging rumor leads... If the higher compression is just for 0-60 time marketing and would be normally turned off, then I see a reason for doing it.
[/b]

Yeah but you'll have to cool the turbo somehow and the oil (pump?) as well.


Well, Honda's mild hybrids can be considered as having electric superchargers heh. The motor and battery providing the "supercharged" power.


anyway, I'm not sure sure about supercharging.

[phidauex]

One of the great things about diesel engines is that they don't rely on a specific air/fuel ratio. You can have as much air in the combustion chamber as you want, and then you just inject as much fuel as you need. Which is why an idling diesel uses about 1/6th the fuel of a similarly sized idling gasoline engine. So for diesels, you should never NOT turbocharge them. The turbo gives you more power when you stomp on it, and more efficiency from a faster burn when you are gentle.

Gasoline engines are getting closer and closer to diesels with variable timing, direct injection, and even some compression-ignition engines coming along. With this it should be possible to put in more air, without necessarily having to put in more fuel, like you usually have to do.

Cooling it is a valid issue, but an electric supercharger (just another air compression/injection method, usually powered off the engine, instead of from the exhaust gases) is not a bad idea. Getting more oxygen in there can definitely improve efficiency, if you aren't making things too lean to burn right.

I suppose we'll see. The Prius is showing how many of our ideas about how a car 'should' work can be changed, and improved. My hope is that the tradition will continue, until people no longer think of a drive train in the same way they used to.

-Sam

[ml194152]

Turbocharging is a joke for the Prius. Don't people understand that turbos require PREMIUM gas? Does anybody really believe that premium gas will ever be required on a Prius? Certainly not me!

[naterprius]

Electric supercharger: Use electric motor to turn fan to blow air into engine to cause pistons to push harder to turn engine harder to turn generator faster to make more electricity to power motor to turn the wheels.

Option 2: Use electric motor to turn wheels more.

Hmmm....

Nate

[John in LB]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ml194152 @ Apr 26 2007, 10:21 AM) [snapback]430660[/snapback]</div>

Turbocharging is a joke for the Prius. Don't people understand that turbos require PREMIUM gas? Does anybody really believe that premium gas will ever be required on a Prius? Certainly not me!
[/b]

You are probably right that turbocharging will require premium gas. But don't think that's a bad option: What if it improves your gas mileage from say 50 MPG to 60 MPG (a 20% improvement).... would you consider premium gas then?

[Dan.]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 20 2007, 12:49 PM) [snapback]426846[/snapback]</div>

I will bet on the 1.8 litre though (although 1.6 litre is more likely) because Toyota has just released a new set of ZR engines for the Corolla (1.6 and 1.8 litre form) and they have dual VVT-i. Just add direct injection and stepless variable valve timing and you'll have a pretty efficient engine (the 1.6 litre might even do better in power and efficiency than our 1.5 litre).
[/b]

May have already been mentioned here, but Edmund's believes the Prius will stay at 1.5L

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