Sneak Peek of the New Prius

[hill]

Originally Posted by Brodie

Seriously, you are all obsessed . I hadn't looked at this post before, went to the last page, and read back through all the posts, until I got to the picture.....which is a little picture of a little screen! What a letdown!!

Just kidding....it was just kind of funny reading how hyped up everyone was in the posts without having seen the pic first.

Maybe you thought you were havng a de ja vu ... maybe you thought this was really FHOP, and this was the thread about nothing.

[TJandGENESIS]

Originally Posted by hill

Maybe you thought you were havng a de ja vu ... maybe you thought this was really FHOP, and this was the thread about nothing.

Yes.

[08kashmir]

Originally Posted by usbseawolf2000

To Prius Team,

If we will have to piece together the puzzle, can you provide the list of our "favorite Prius sites"?

Yes! That's what I want to know, too!

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

If they are to appeal to more people, a regular shift is a good start. Annoying? yes. How hard is it to learn something new? Apparently for a lotta people, hard enough to not want to buy a car.

Then why doesn't every vehicle sold come with a crank in the front and a manual choke? Why do they have power windows and door locks? Air conditioning and heaters? Why do they have fobs for remote locking and unlocking? I know of NO ONE who has driven a Prius that did not QUICKLY get used to the joystick shifter, located OUT OF THE WAY with the movement needed to get to the desired 'gear' the SAME no matter what 'gear' you are currently in. Not only is the 2010 shifter IN the way, it is BIGGER. It looks like a freaking golf club. Like something you have to get a good grip on to force it through the gates. The oblong rounded shape is likely HARDER to shift because you can't easily '1 finger' it. It is all 'artwork' and no function. So much for the elegant solution in the 2004 redesign. If someone didn't buy a Prius I will bet it WAS NOT because of the shifter on the dash. That should have been Toyota's contribution to IMPROVING the automobile, like starter motors and automatic chokes did.

Originally Posted by KMO

Then what's the point of the Prius? Everyone's introducing hybrid versions of normal models. If Toyota want to have a hybrid-only vehicle that's supposed to somehow be special, then it has to be a bit different. Otherwise they might as well just call it an Auris/Corolla hybrid. Seems like a big marketing failure to try and make it like all their other models.

I agree.

If Toyota wants a Corolla hatchback, make one. Toyota SAID they were going to put HSD in EVERY model. Haven't seen it yet. Even new models (Venza, coming late 2008) aren't HSD. It is just another 5 seat crossover with lousy mileage (22 combined) and a claustrophobic front 'cabin' similar to the 2010 Prius pictures and with gauges hidden behind the steering wheel. WHY bother making it at all? Bring back the Camry wagon and save a lot of design costs.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

What SHOULD have happened is through volume, Toyota would be building HSD versions of existing models when they come up for 'refresh' or redesign at the same price as the non HSD model. Then the non HSD models would fade into the sunset using 100% more fuel than their replacements.

I think Toyota has let us all down. People have been BEGGING for the hybrid minivan that Toyota has sold in Japan for YEARS. Not here. They have the technology (and patents) to substantially decrease gasoline usage thus helping the environment and saving their customers a lot of money, yet they are sitting on it. They have a number of REALLY GOOD ergonomic features on the Prius and they don't move them out to other models. Worse, they are now TAKING THEM OUT of the Prius.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by bruceha_2000

Then why doesn't every vehicle sold come with a crank in the front and a manual choke? Why do they have power windows and door locks? Air conditioning and heaters? Why do they have fobs for remote locking and unlocking? I know of NO ONE who has driven a Prius that did not QUICKLY get used to the joystick shifter, located OUT OF THE WAY with the movement needed to get to the desired 'gear' the SAME no matter what 'gear' you are currently in. Not only is the 2010 shifter IN the way, it is BIGGER. It looks like a freaking golf club. Like something you have to get a good grip on to force it through the gates. The oblong rounded shape is likely HARDER to shift because you can't easily '1 finger' it. It is all 'artwork' and no function. So much for the elegant solution in the 2004 redesign. If someone didn't buy a Prius I will bet it WAS NOT because of the shifter on the dash. That should have been Toyota's contribution to IMPROVING the automobile, like starter motors and automatic chokes did.I agree.

everything you've listed was to make things easier and with less effort... power windows instead of cranking, power door locks instead of individually unlocking the doors, turn the key instead of cranking and choking

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by bruceha_2000

Then why doesn't every vehicle sold come with a crank in the front and a manual choke? Why do they have power windows and door locks? Air conditioning and heaters? Why do they have fobs for remote locking and unlocking? I know of NO ONE who has driven a Prius that did not QUICKLY get used to the joystick shifter, located OUT OF THE WAY with the movement needed to get to the desired 'gear' the SAME no matter what 'gear' you are currently in. Not only is the 2010 shifter IN the way, it is BIGGER. It looks like a freaking golf club. Like something you have to get a good grip on to force it through the gates. The oblong rounded shape is likely HARDER to shift because you can't easily '1 finger' it. It is all 'artwork' and no function. So much for the elegant solution in the 2004 redesign. If someone didn't buy a Prius I will bet it WAS NOT because of the shifter on the dash. That should have been Toyota's contribution to IMPROVING the automobile, like starter motors and automatic chokes did.I agree.

If Toyota wants a Corolla hatchback, make one. Toyota SAID they were going to put HSD in EVERY model. Haven't seen it yet. Even new models (Venza, coming late 2008) aren't HSD. It is just another 5 seat crossover with lousy mileage (22 combined) and a claustrophobic front 'cabin' similar to the 2010 Prius pictures and with gauges hidden behind the steering wheel. WHY bother making it at all? Bring back the Camry wagon and save a lot of design costs.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

What SHOULD have happened is through volume, Toyota would be building HSD versions of existing models when they come up for 'refresh' or redesign at the same price as the non HSD model. Then the non HSD models would fade into the sunset using 100% more fuel than their replacements.

I think Toyota has let us all down. People have been BEGGING for the hybrid minivan that Toyota has sold in Japan for YEARS. Not here. They have the technology (and patents) to substantially decrease gasoline usage thus helping the environment and saving their customers a lot of money, yet they are sitting on it. They have a number of REALLY GOOD ergonomic features on the Prius and they don't move them out to other models. Worse, they are now TAKING THEM OUT of the Prius.

So much angst along with so much incorrect data/conclusions.

There IS a Corolla hatchback...it's called the Matrix, the hybrid version of which is called the Prius.



At present there cannot be a hybrid for every model..

• the market will not support it, there simply are not enough buyers yet
• the hybrid battery supply is insufficient, hopefully to change soon
• other technological solutions are developing quickly so betting 'Allin' on one is risking one's whole stack unnecessarily
• and frankly Toyota moves at its own pace, which annoys some creating angst

What we can see is that there is a structure in place to move quickly, say 2-5 yrs, to hybridize a large segment of the product line where it makes sense. It makes no sense to hybridize the Corolla. It almost gets Prius fuel economy numbers with an 'old fashioned' ICE technology...and there are still improvements to come... and it costs a LOT less money. Ditto the Yaris.
The Venza is perfectly situated to get an HSD option at the flip of a switch, at a time of Toyota's choosing.
The Highlander is there already but it may benefit by a 2.7L+HSD option.
The Sienna is perfectly situated to get an HSD option as well at the flip of a switch, also at a Toyota's choosing.
Ditto the Avalon if it even survives this downturn.

However what if.....there is an agreement in place for the 4 major hybrid makers not to compete with each other until the market becomes more mature? Note that..
..Toyota has not built a hybrid RAV ( FEH competitor )
..Toyota has not built a small hybrid auto ( HCH competitor )
..Honda has not built a midsized hatchback hybrid ( close but the Insight is NOT equivalent to the Prius )
..GM and Ford have not ( yet ) built a hybrid Fusion / Malibu 2-Mode to compete against the TCH.
..Ford and Toyota have not built any BOF hybrids ( GM's sphere of influence )
In fact none of the four compete directly in the same price strata. Each has there own - for the time being.

[zenMachine]

I've just noticed that the Venza in the photo above also has a magazine rack by the center console. Just the kind of thing I need. My wife would love that.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

everything you've listed was to make things easier and with less effort... power windows instead of cranking, power door locks instead of individually unlocking the doors, turn the key instead of cranking and choking

That is precisely the point, is it not? All those things make driving easier and safer. As do any number of Prius features, some of which Toyota is apparently taking away on the 2010. They should be ADDING them to their other models for the same reason all those other things are there.

Look at that arch console thingy. 90% wasted space, just to hold up the gated joystick and a couple of buttons. It also puts the forward cup holder in a bad position: on an upslope, starting PRECISELY where (at least) my wrist lays when I have my arm resting on the center console when both cupholders are closed. That will be REAL comfortable. Yeah, yeah, I know both hands on the wheel at all times.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by zenMachine

I've just noticed that the Venza in the photo above also has a magazine rack by the center console. Just the kind of thing I need. My wife would love that.

Maybe they don't have 'map pockets' in the doors? Didn't look that closely.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by bruceha_2000

Maybe they don't have 'map pockets' in the doors? Didn't look that closely.

Those are just an evolution of Toyota's side console pockets (Started with the Yaris)

Originally Posted by bruceha_2000

That is precisely the point, is it not? All those things make driving easier and safer. As do any number of Prius features, some of which Toyota is apparently taking away on the 2010. They should be ADDING them to their other models for the same reason all those other things are there.

Look at that arch console thingy. 90% wasted space, just to hold up the gated joystick and a couple of buttons. It also puts the forward cup holder in a bad position: on an upslope, starting PRECISELY where (at least) my wrist lays when I have my arm resting on the center console when both cupholders are closed. That will be REAL comfortable. Yeah, yeah, I know both hands on the wheel at all times.

The speedo makes it safer for sure and easier for me and for you and for those open enough to see it. But I do see their point. It does look very 80s compared to the cool Optitron electronic gauges. But that isn't the point since the new Prius seem to retain that speedo location which is good. The point is the shifter right? Yeah I agree it's stupid to put it back in the console, eating up valuable real estate but as I've said before, people nowadays aren't as adventurous as they were back in the days of experimenting with new things in cars (like an electronic starter/ignition). Those of us who realise its intention appreciate Toyota efforts to try new things (remember the gun grip of the 1st Generation?).