BREAKING NEWS! 2010 Prius Photos posted on PriusChat First! Confirmed real!

[bedrock8x]

It is the turn signal light with an amber light bulb inside.

Originally Posted by wchardin

I think that the square light on top of the fog-light is the daytime running lights. That is just a guess because my 04 4Runner had square lights above the fog-lights which doubled as daytime running lights and the turn signals.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by grand total

Somehow the car pictured here looks a little too short to be the new Prius.

Except for the long view exterior shot it appears to me as if the photos were shot through a glass which distorted the proportions.

That interior shot seems very accurate from the other spy pics shown a couple of weeks back but the room from the seatback to the steering wheel makes it appear that only a 94 lb rail could sit in the front seat. The proportions are way off just as the front lights are different.

It almost seems like more viral marketing to keep the pot boiling. Off angle shots, chatter, tiny details, more chatter, speculation, more chatter. If one thing is true Toyota is the best auto marketer on the planet. This all seems too staged - but effective, more chatter.

So to take a step back and look at reality. The Gen 3 will be almost exactly the same as the Gen 2 in shape, size, demensions and room. This is perfectly consistent with Toyota's product strategy of 10 yrs on one design and 10 years on one powertrain system. Normally these overlap by 5 yrs. Thus...
The Gen 2 came out in Oct 2003. It was due for a renewal this month but delayed by the Li-Ion issue. Typically the renewal should have been a maintenance of the 5 door hatch design but with new sheetmetal and new nose and tail. That appears to be what we are seeing. This is perfcetly consistent with all the other Toyota cars.

However at this midpoint in the 10 yr cycle the interior and 'under-the-hood' features get changed. This year was supposed to be the debut of the Li-Ion system with the new 'R' family of engines which are both more powerful and more fuel efficient. Scratch the Li-Ions for the time being but the new engine(s) are ready to go.

Net result: Same exterior design with minor modifications, same utility, more power, better fuel economy ( with more to come ), new 'Prius toys' to be discovered, new interior........same price ( IMO ).

[spwolf]

Originally Posted by DeadPhish

Except for the long view exterior shot it appears to me as if the photos were shot through a glass which distorted the proportions.

That interior shot seems very accurate from the other spy pics shown a couple of weeks back but the room from the seatback to the steering wheel makes it appear that only a 94 lb rail could sit in the front seat. The proportions are way off just as the front lights are different.

It almost seems like more viral marketing to keep the pot boiling. Off angle shots, chatter, tiny details, more chatter, speculation, more chatter. If one thing is true Toyota is the best auto marketer on the planet. This all seems too staged - but effective, more chatter.

So to take a step back and look at reality. The Gen 3 will be almost exactly the same as the Gen 2 in shape, size, demensions and room. This is perfectly consistent with Toyota's product strategy of 10 yrs on one design and 10 years on one powertrain system. Normally these overlap by 5 yrs. Thus...
The Gen 2 came out in Oct 2003. It was due for a renewal this month but delayed by the Li-Ion issue. Typically the renewal should have been a maintenance of the 5 door hatch design but with new sheetmetal and new nose and tail. That appears to be what we are seeing. This is perfcetly consistent with all the other Toyota cars.

However at this midpoint in the 10 yr cycle the interior and 'under-the-hood' features get changed. This year was supposed to be the debut of the Li-Ion system with the new 'R' family of engines which are both more powerful and more fuel efficient. Scratch the Li-Ions for the time being but the new engine(s) are ready to go.

Net result: Same exterior design with minor modifications, same utility, more power, better fuel economy ( with more to come ), new 'Prius toys' to be discovered, new interior........same price ( IMO ).

who exactly planned this fantom li-ion system? :-).

2010 Prius is all new car on all new platform with all new powertrain.

[NeoPrius]

Originally Posted by StarBrite310

I hate the center console. That's for sure! The open space we all have now on our cars is one of my favorite things. It's so easy to put stuff there and makes things look nice and clean looking. Not cluttered.

Ditto. I REALLY hate the center console.

But I remember when I first saw the Dash mounted shifter we have now and thought how stupid it was and wondered why they didn't put it where shifters are supposed to be - in the center console. So, maybe they are trying to appeal to people who have never owned a Prius. But I've got to say, I like it where it is just fine. The new cockpit looks claustrophobic.

Fortunately, I usually own cars for 8 to 10 years. There ought to be a lot more choice out there when the time comes to replace my '08.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by joe1347

Surprised no one has mentioned how the 2010 Prius stacks up against the 2010 Honda Insight.

Taking it down the the most basic form...

The 2010 Insight is a Honda Fit hybrid. It's a $19000 vehicle including a $1500 hybrid option. IOW it's a $17500 gasser 5 door hatchback, which is exactly what the Fit is. Look at a Honda Fit today with the fuel economy of the HCH and there you'll have it.

The 2010 Prius is probably a $24000 vehicle including a $2500 hybrid option. IOW it's a $21500 gasser 5 door hatchback. It will likely get 15-20% better fuel economy than the HCH or Insight with more power, more room and nicer features ( $21500 vs $17500 ).

However the Prius can be stepped up significantly to 'upscale' whereas the Insight probably will not intrude on the HCH sales territory.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by spwolf

who exactly planned this fantom li-ion system? :-).

2010 Prius is all new car on all new platform with all new powertrain.

About 12 - 18 months ago Toyota let on ( indirectly and unofficially ) that the new Prius would not debut 'on schedule' in Oct 2008. It would be delayed some months. It also stated ( indirectly and unofficially ) that more testing was needed on the Li-Ion batteries so these would NOT be included at the debut of the Gen 3 as speculated.

Since then due to the Volt campaign by GM Toyota has indicated that the Li-Ions would be available within the next 12-24 months. My own belief is that both systems will be offered in order to appeal to a wider range of buyers. The NiMH system which is dead solid reliable and very cost effective now will likely be the base technology for all the hybrids well into the next decade. The Li-Ion system when it passes its grades will IMO be the 'upscale' option, including a PHEV option.

[SageBrush]

I'd much rather be talking about tech improvements under the hood, but this will have to do for now ...

I don't care to be in-fashion or out-of-fashion, unique or common -- I just like what I like. And I like the exterior more than the G2, which is saying something. The interior depends: I'm glad the huge expanse of cheesy plastic making up the dash has become contoured with what looks like a much better quality plastic, that the MFD is lower, and lines are clean. The 'overall' look of the front dash however is bland. Maybe in person it will feel differently.

As for the center dash with the shifter, I'll join in the chorus and say I wish they had not. But then I won't be buying this model, and I think the emphasis on cup holders is asinine and reeks of SUVism. My old Subaru has a pull out tray with a couple of holes that is more than enough.

Show me a subtle slot for an iPod with MFD control and I'll cheer.

[Swanny]

Originally Posted by hampdenwireless

...I do not like the front end. It looks like it has a pig snout...

I couldn't have said it better myself. It does look like a pig snout.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by Swanny

I couldn't have said it better myself. It does look like a pig snout.

No this vehicle has the pig snout...

[mrg]

Originally Posted by donee

Hi All,

Definately do not like the offset instrument display. The Prius needs the speedometer straight ahead.

Also, the turn signal/fog light cluster are placed in a recess which will act like a parachute, rather than shed the air around the corner.

And one more time - the CENTER CONSOL SHIFTER IS STUPID! And the lowered MFD is also very dumb. Why put that big hump in the middle of the dash there, if not to stick the MFD up into it. With this overall view of the dashboard I am just appalled at the lack of design sense, that just drips from the second generation Prius.

Also, what happend to the nice dashboard shelf that used to be in the car? That dashboard is so short, and slope-y, that its just not handy at all.

Dumb dumb dumb interior design!!

I agree. And I don't see any interior improvements. Where is my wife suppose to put her purse? The console looks shorter. The shifter was out of the way on the Gen 2. That left a convenient place to also place a sack lunch or other items one might want to keep out of the way of others riding in the back seat. Looks to me like they took a step backwards with the interior design.

I wonder, if you will still have to mail order body side molds, to protect from parking lot dings?