Countdown to 2010 unveiling

All-New Prius - The Third Generation Prius

I'll have to do that!

Maybe we can eat popcorn and watch it together. Oh wait, you're on the wrong side of the country. Want to come over to my place?

Tom

I'll be watching it, dead set I will. I am hanging out to get my greasy hands on the new 2010 Prius, it is going to awesome and some!!
Hey Tom, can I come over too or are you only inviting the girls?

Hey, while on the Toyota site I found this little tidbit!

Posted to: Auto Shows, Toyota
Toyota Will Debut Battery Electric Vehicle Concept At 2009 North American International Auto Show

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle.
Toyota Vehicles : Toyota Will Debut Battery Electric Vehicle Concept At 2009 North American International Auto Show / Toyota

Had anyone seen that before?

What? You're not a girl?!? All this time I thought I was chatting up an Aussie babe.

No, seriously, the more the merrier.

Tom

Gosh, Tom... that's great!
I'll bring a bottle of cheer.

Cool, I'll be there.
See you there, I better get packing.

Oh yeah an Aussie babe who has posted pictures of himself on PC and you never noticed? I thought the red beard would have given it away.

I read on the toyota website that the 2010 is here. I have not seen a single one at a dealer yet. In fact for the first time in 5 years a dealer has over 50 new 2009 prius on the lot now. The recession hit everyone, even Toyota.
I also read Toyota is having everyone take a week or so off while they have a shut down. Chrysler was taking over a month off as a shut down.

I'm still waiting to see a 2010.
I also tried to pre-order a plug-in 2010 a day ago and am waiting for an answer. I've heard a few dealers in California are accepting plug-in orders.

Any conformation of it ? anyone seen the 2010 in person at a dealer yet ?

It will be rather pathetic if Toyota can't get past 60 mpg. The technology in the current Prius is now 10+ years old and delivers around 50. If they can't up that by 25% in 10 years, they really didn't try.

They can do over 80 mpg, but then they will need to strip down many things. Maybe then Prius will become Yaris Hybrid with no A/C.
There are always limits. Hybrid drives do not have unlimited range on energy savings. You can do much more by reducing weight, size and other core car parameters.
If you want ultimate energy savings, go towards GM EV1 stuff. Pure electric, small, efficient, ... Of course it was only two seater, but that was the price of energy efficiency.

Click on the link in post #1 here. That's the closest word you'll get from Toyota corporate on the 2010 ... until tomorrow morning.

I guarantee you there are no 2010's in any dealer right now.

But there is at least one waiting in a press conference room in Detroit today.

I think Toyota is trying to find the right balance for the Prius.

Sure, the current Prius easily gets 50 MPG average, but the flipside is the rated cargo and occupant capacity is only 810 lbs. That's might hold only 4 adults and a small amount of luggage. And I wonder how the current Prius pulls over a mountain pass loaded down with 800 lbs.

Toyota is not going for the record on fuel economy in trying to make the car smaller. I think they are trying to make it to suit a great many people such that it sells in even bigger numbers.

I'm curious if Toyota will reveal more than just pictures and videos tomorrow. I'm sure we would all like detailed information of some of the new features & functions, as well as detailed specs.

For example, regarding the rooftop solar panel (assuming they are a reality) ... what are its functions and what is its maximum output wattage?

Information about the limitations of certain features are important too, especially for those inventors out there who excel at creating gadgets to overcome those limitations. (for example, interfacing the solar panel with an engine block heater, assuming it will not be a factory option.)

Hey, We'll let you know what they reveal... soon!