Sneak Peek of the New Prius #4

[lob]

Interesting to see a relatively heavy new component, and electric motor and gearset, coming along for the ride. My Honda Civic has an manually adjustable seat height control. That would have been more interesting than a power switch.

That particular Honda seat control was a trouble spot. The bushings would work loose and allow the seat to rock. The dealer would dutifully replace the assembly, over and over again under warranty. Now that the warranty has expired, I have had to get used to the rocking seat.

My Civic was a first year run (2001), and that is precisely the kind of problem I would worry about if I end up waiting for the 2010 Prius in its first year of production.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by Rybold

I have not been following these "photo of the day" posts, or whatever you are calling them.
What proof or evidence do we have that these photos are even real ?
Has anyone verified who "Prius Team" is?
Is it some 16-year old kid who is screwing around with you guys, or is it a verified, legitimate source from inside Toyota?

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Yes they're real and confirmed and we were aware they would be posted before they were.

[spwolf]

Originally Posted by lob

Interesting to see a relatively heavy new component, and electric motor and gearset, coming along for the ride. My Honda Civic has an manually adjustable seat height control. That would have been more interesting than a power switch.

That particular Honda seat control was a trouble spot. The bushings would work loose and allow the seat to rock. The dealer would dutifully replace the assembly, over and over again under warranty. Now that the warranty has expired, I have had to get used to the rocking seat.

My Civic was a first year run (2001), and that is precisely the kind of problem I would worry about if I end up waiting for the 2010 Prius in its first year of production.

heh... well it is not electric :-).... and even if it was, Prius is hardly first Toyota to have it. I have had 0 issues with electric seats in my Toyota/Lexus vehicles that I owned, hardly an new technology there..

[zenMachine]

Originally Posted by efusco

Yes they're real and confirmed and we were aware they would be posted before they were.

Authentic or not, the latest photo is pretty amateurish compositionally and the quality is downright bad. Very unlike the first three.

[Rybold]

Originally Posted by spwolf

heh... well it is not electric :-)....

It has a pneumatic hand pump. When you get in, there's a bicycle-like pump and you have to pump the air tank up to 100psi first, then you can use the pneumatic seats.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I believe it is power back angle adjustment.
There is a manual height adjustment handle in shot, manual slide handle in shot and that switch.

That'll be power lumbar (you can just make out the arrow pointing the lumbar area). And all Toyota lumbar support switches are of that double dimple type. Toyota's recline switch would be a rocker switched fixed at the bottom and angled at 45°.

[Neicy]

I wouldn't care if I had to jack the seat up to get it higher - just something other than pillows and foam padding please.

[Mormegil]

About time they put an ejector seat button on these things!

[ManualOnly]

Don't forget, for every "new" comfy-feature added to Prius 2009/10, it is gonna add, not just weight, but also cost and complexity the entire package.

I'd rather Toyota get the hybrid basics enhanced like higher battery-energy-weight-ratio, improved safety and yes that promised improved fuel economy...

In short, no free lunch.

[spwolf]

Originally Posted by ManualOnly

Don't forget, for every "new" comfy-feature added to Prius 2009/10, it is gonna add, not just weight, but also cost and complexity the entire package.

I'd rather Toyota get the hybrid basics enhanced like higher battery-energy-weight-ratio, improved safety and yes that promised improved fuel economy...

In short, no free lunch.

but they are :-). Yes, it will have improved safety, more comfy, more features, more tech, 1.8l engine, 60hp battery output for total of 160hp AND better mpg between 10% and 15%...