More 3rd Generation 2010 Prius spy photos

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by justlurkin

It IS a Gen-II. Take a look at the front-quarter shot-- They used a very thin fabric to cover the intake, and you can see it's a Gen-II hood with the bump in the middle where the Toyota emblem is mounted and the Gen-II smiley grille.

The front hood looked more sloped because they used cardboard to cover it up all the way past the windshield wiper recess at the base of the windshield.

You can change the wheels easy, and it's even easier to change the antenna-- Priuschat sells a sharkfin antenna replacement.

Sorry we will have to agree to disagree but I know I'm right.

Using your reference of the front-quarter view look at the 'T' emblem. It's the same as on the 09 Camry, partly on the hood and partly drooping on the grill. On the 08's the 'T' emblem is fully on the hood. In addition in the 08s there is a thin bar across the grill. In this pic the bar is gone or is MUCH thicker.

The info that Toyota has leaked out in other places indicates that the styling is going to be essentially unchanged but slightly wider/longer. This vehicle matches that description.

[justlurkin]

Take a look at the earlier photo of that car (uploaded below). You can tell those are NOT sheet metal that's making the car look wider. It looks wider because of the foamboard duct-taped on-- Notice how they had to make cutouts in the foamboard to accomodate the door handles deep underneath. No sheet metal looks that crude.

The tailgate is still recognizable as an '08 when compared to the unadorned '08 parked in front of it.

They changed the shape of the foamboard coverings in that latest round of spy shots at the beginning of this thread-- The rear side windows are now covered up with a rounder cutout, more foamboard on the tailgate.

Most likely they are just bouncing around rough ideas on updating the exterior of the car by taping foamboard that is easy to change onto an existing genII chassis.

FWIW I do like the more angular look if they can actually translate that into sheet metal with neat lines. It's probably a good idea to make GenIII look a bit more distinctive considering how the Honda Prius-wannabe (aka Global Small Hybrid or Honda Hindsight LOL) is going to resemble the Gen-II so strongly.

[Picasso Moon]

Originally Posted by DeadPhish

Sorry we will have to agree to disagree but I know I'm right.

Yes you are. The front end, hood and grill area are completely different than the current model. Additionally, there are maker lights integrated into the front bumper which seems rather odd.

Originally Posted by justlurkin

Most likely they are just bouncing around rough ideas on updating the exterior of the car by taping foamboard that is easy to change onto an existing genII chassis.

No way, if this is 2010 car. By all accounts, the next generation Prius will be introduced in Jan '09 at the NAIAS and go on sale sometime in the spring. If this is case the design has been locked down long ago, tooling has been ordered and is being/has been manufactured and they are in the final stages of fine tuning the car. If they were just "bouncing around rough ideas" you would be looking at 2011/2012 model at the earliest. Regardless, that is not how any auto company designs cars. They don't slap some panels on an existing model and go motoring around in the streets to bounce around rough ideas.

[V8Cobrakid]

imagine this (hard for some of you... imagination) haha

behind all those "sheets" is a body that's different than our current models.. yet keeps similar dimensions, as promised by the president of Toyota ( as others have said ).... so... you cover everything that's different so you can cruise around in your ghost... everyone will be mystified because they think it's the same.. thanks to all that crappy Camo... as you've noticed by the odd tapes, panel dimensions, and alignments.... ever seen a magic eye book? cheap yet effective

[justlurkin]

Originally Posted by Picasso Moon

No way, if this is 2010 car. By all accounts, the next generation Prius will be introduced in Jan '09 at the NAIAS and go on sale sometime in the spring.

Take a look at the earlier photo and the latest photo of that same car. Many of the taped-on panels have been changed, including the location of the crease line on the doors. The older photo had the crease going through the cutouts for the doorhandles. The newer photos had the crease higher, clearing the door handles. The rear end has a different panel configuration taped on too.

Why change the shape of the foamboard taped-on panels so much? That seems like a lot of work for nothing. I'm sure they got better things to do than to spend hours reshaping foamboard and reapplying all that duct tape.

Maybe not for the 2010 if they already set up the production line and tooling for it, perhaps for something else. (though I question whether or not they can actually put the 2010 into dealer showrooms by Spring 2009-- That's 6 months ahead of their customary September/October model year launch for Priuses).

[Jimmie84]

So if the 2010 is coming from Japan and it won't be lithium Ion powered what is gonna power it besides a gas engine?

[justlurkin]

Originally Posted by DeadPhish

Sorry we will have to agree to disagree but I know I'm right.

Using your reference of the front-quarter view look at the 'T' emblem. It's the same as on the 09 Camry, partly on the hood and partly drooping on the grill. On the 08's the 'T' emblem is fully on the hood. In addition in the 08s there is a thin bar across the grill. In this pic the bar is gone or is MUCH thicker.

You mean like this?

That is CLEARLY an '08 Prius body with the front-end mods you mentioned.

Before they put all those other foamboard panels on the doors.

[KandyRedCoi]

Originally Posted by Danny

2010 Toyota Prius Spied! - The Car Connection

i see a trade-in, in the not so distant future

looks like it will sport a similar front end to the new MATRIX...or could just be a disguise

[Sho-Bud]

Looks like these last spyphoto's were made in Belgium. There is a sign on one of the houses which is in Dutch and French language. Also on one of the other paked cars there seems to be a Belgium license plate.
Someone mentioned disc brakes at the rear wheels, but all of the Priusses sold in Europe have them (and a in hight adjustable drivers seat)

[Arroyo]

I really like the look of the camouflage (GTI-like grille, slab sides) I hope the real thing looks as good!