2010 Toyota Prius Spy Shot

[Tideland Prius]

If you ask me, they're just testing the mechanics with a current gen body. Why the mask and tape when they could just run around naked with the current body without arousing suspicion? It's possible that the current gen body has been modified (either because the unpinnings have been stretched or shrunk).

[justlurkin]

By the way, there is another higher-resolution shot of that same car on Flickr posted today.

The body definitely looks very crude like it's made of taped-on panels. I can envision a normal 2nd-generation body under all that duct tape.

Sorry to rain on the party, but I'd have say that's definitely not the fabled 3rd gen!

[Bill Merchant]

Frankencar.

Anyone notice the part on the pavement in the full pic?

[Rybold]

Justlurkin, thank you for posting the close up pic. It helps a lot. I have to agree that it might not look as professional as a major automaker would make, and why the heck would a paper mache version be here in the U.S. ?
Tail lights aside, I think the car looks great! The creases in the doors and shape of the windows looks great!

[DaveSheremata]

Well, I for one think it's a fake. There's all kinds of things wrong - inconsistent aliasing, and there are so many crazy design issues it looks like it's a pontiac! For you guys who think it looks good, I offer you this:




Cheers!

Dave

[Rybold]

Is it less aerodynamic??? (compared to the current Prius)

[Rokeby]

I really can't see Toyota designing and producing new bodywork for a
single year of production. It would be very inefficient, and that's not the
Toyota way of doing business.

So what about the pix? I see two possibilities. It could be a red-herring
put out by TOA just to keep us guessing. Second, and more likely, it looks
to be a club event where contestants are given an hour, some poster
board, and some white tape to design their idea of a "better" looking Prius.

So what then to expect for the '09 model. I would hazard a guess that it
will be the '06-'08 bodywork and interior. We know there are lots of folks
who will buy the car with the body as is. I would expect to see some
soft/firmware fiddling to demonstrte progress, perhaps a 10% MPG
increase with current HV battery, and some other electronical changes
that don't require major retooling.

Whether I'm right or wrong, I am looking forward to seeing how Toyota
handles the '09, really just a place holder before the completely different
2010 model which will have the capacity/flexability to go PHEV in 2011,
as I understand it.

[jelloslug]

Originally Posted by Danny

The picture is originally from a Flickr set - 2009/2010 Toyota Prius Spy Shot en Flickr: ¡Intercambio de fotos!

I'm not sure if I believe the photo or not... It is somewhat hard for me to believe that Toyota would allow a vehicle that they are trying to keep so closely guarded out into a busy area like that - it's a full parking lot, for Pete's sake.

You can only do so much when it comes time to do real road testing on a pre-production model. I live near the BMW plant in SC and I saw plenty of the new X6 in camo months and months ago way before there were real BMW pics of it out.

[narf]

Anyone see the new Honda Hybrid Spy pics. This spy picture looks an awful lot like the Honda. Compare the lower rear hatch areas.
2010 Honda Hybrid Spied! - The Car Connection
...New Honda
...Prius? or Honda?

[drees]

Definitely not a Honda, the Honda has 4-lug wheels (very common on Hondas) while the Toyota has 5-lug wheels (very common on Toyotas).