Toyota Prius Goes Mainstream: Toyota's hybrid icon to share Corolla components

[hb06]

"Toyota's Prius is notable not just for its hybrid drivetrain, but for its unique body structure as well, aimed at strength with light weight for optimum fuel efficiency and safety."

"The 2009 Prius won't be a standalone car in the Toyota lineup, however. It'll share many structural and suspension elements with the Auris, the car that replaces the Corolla in Europe and has recently launched in Japan as an upscale compact."
MotorTrend Link
http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_ne...oes_mainstream/

[efusco]

Not sure I'm thrilled about the larger ICE, I'd like to see the extra torque/HP from a more powerful battery/MG combo while maximizing the ICE FE....but I guess they're aiming for the Prius to be as quick and powerful as the majority of the cars on the road.

Everyone say it with me...PHEV, PHEV, PHEV!!!

[cireecnop1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 20 2007, 11:14 AM) [snapback]409003[/snapback]</div>

Not sure I'm thrilled about the larger ICE, I'd like to see the extra torque/HP from a more powerful battery/MG combo while maximizing the ICE FE....but I guess they're aiming for the Prius to be as quick and powerful as the majority of the cars on the road.

Everyone say it with me...PHEV, PHEV, PHEV!!!
[/b]

PHEV,PHEV,PHEV!!! and 100MPG,100MPG

[KMO]

Fix the thread title - it's the Auris, not the Corolla.

But anyway. Bummer. The Auris is another 3.5cm wider than the current Prius. How are we supposed to fit these lard-assed cars into our garages?

[SomervillePrius]

PHEV! PHEV!

Not a surprising move. I'm sure toyota are now trying to maximize profit on the Prius. To bad! I hope they also are willing to launch a radical car again.

[hb06]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Mar 20 2007, 11:52 AM) [snapback]409126[/snapback]</div>

PHEV! PHEV!

Not a surprising move. I'm sure toyota are now trying to maximize profit on the Prius. To bad! I hope they also are willing to launch a radical car again.
[/b]

The Toyota Hybrid X looks pretty radical if it gets off the floor.
Video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LAfKkGt9P2w

[SomervillePrius]

I wasn't thinking design as much as performance.... but I might have jumpt the gun... the Prius will still use lighter weight materials to keep the FE up...

[NuShrike]

Already uses the Corolla's trailing-arm SIRS.

But, new 3-link (multilink?) IRS? That would be grand! and reduce/eliminate the rear swaying/floating in the suspension, and maybe brings it up to par to an econobox Kia Spectra.

[Tideland Prius]

niiice.. I'm pumped just by the suspension annoucement lol. Sure the current rear suspension is compact but to be honest, it's a bit stiff for my tastes (I'm sure there are others here are ok with it). Surprisingly, the 98-03 Sienna with the same rear suspension seems quite soft and compliant.

[jhinton]

People need to remember that just because vehicle share a common platform doesn't mean that they will be the same. Examples:

Volvo S40, Volvo V50, Mazda 3, Mazda 5, and European Ford Focus share the same platform.

VW Golf, VW Jetta, Audi A4, Audi S4 share the same platform.

Honda Pilot and Ridgeline share the same platform.

Currently the Prius is a stand alone model that shares very little with other cars. This is an very expensive way to build a car. It is only natural that Toyota will want to commonize some components. It doesn't mean that the next Prius will be a Corolla.


Hopefully the new Prius will get a better suspension. My 2005 Prius handles worse than my first car, a 1991 Chevy Cavalier station wagon.