Jerky Acceleration?! Not my perfect Prius! :'(

what does the SOC / battery icon display when this happens?

 

Sounds serious enough to take it to the dealer,, sorry, and good luck with that.
The car should feel normal no matter what the SOC is.

BTW, the acceleration/power from the engine is the same no matter what "Mode" you have it in.
Full throttle = Full available power.

Also, if you haven't tinted your windows yet, this is an amazing product.
Some Tint Shops have an impressive demonstration device in the office to show off this film.
3M™ Crystalline Automotive Films

I did just my back window and the top of the windshield.
If I lived in your climate I'd spend the bucks to have it all over.

 

Since you're "punching it", are you triggering the traction control? Is the skid light coming on?

If the car was left out in the blazing sun, I'm sure the car and HV battery got pretty hot. There's a reference in the manual on page 33. (I've visited Vegas a few times during the summer before. Man, it is HOT. 109 F in the afternoon isn't unusual and can still be 90s at night...)

I'm not saying your vent is blocked, but perhaps there is a temporary reduction in output due to the high temp.

 

Well, if you have an android phone or tablet you could buy the $5 Torque app and the little OBD II to BT adaptor (~$20) and start trouble shooting yourself. Search PC for info.
It will show you so much data your head will spin...
You can see battery temps, battery moduleΔ , mg1 and 2 temps and so much more I don't know where to start.

Good job of finding the normal/PWR issue. But still, if you are flogging the car, full power is full power no matter what. And there is nothing wrong with "putting the spurs to 'er" either!!

I agree with you on dealers. I dread the day I have to turn my car over to them. I have a Brake Recall pending and I'm nervous about that.....

 

You might be triggering stability control in the 1st case. On Gen 2 Priuses, IIRC, the skid light blinks accompanied by beeping (as opposed to no beeping when traction control is triggered).

Personally, I'm not sure why you're driving that way...

 

Torque is the name of the android only app, sorry. At least I think so...
There are inexpensive 7" droid tablets out there just recently.
< $200, a much better tablet than an old fashion mini ipad.
The really cheap knock off ones don't have accelerometers, magnetometers and GPS.
You need that for all the cool navigation, time to speed and horse power calculations.

I plan on getting one soon and mounting it just forward of the steering wheel. It will display many analog-style gauges. And play music !!
I originally bought it and the adapter just to turn off the reverse beeper. Well worth the price.

I don't think slightly dirty air filters could ever make the surges you are talking about.
Sounds like you have a real issue there,, unless,, are you sure you are not losing traction from condensation puddles, oil spills, the tears of gamblers or molten asphalt?

cwer, He's driving like that because it's fun ! So what if it costs a buck more.
Do Senior Members remember fun?

 

Huh? Engine or Cabin Air filter? That does not make sense either way.

Yeah, it sounds like you are a good candidate to monitor the temp of everything you can.
Let me guess, Black Pruis parked outside every where you go???

Mine is white with the Solar Sun Roof and it still gets hot inside the cabin sitting in the sun.
How hot? I don't know yet. But I have the technology to answer that question!

 

Well, ok... but I have attended a class at

ProFormance Racing School-
Competition and High Performance Driving long ago. Some of what the OP's doing may not be safe. There's an emphasis on smooth inputs (to the wheel, brakes and accelerator). Sudden jerky input to any of those can yield large weight transfers and isn't the best way drive fast around a track.

And, he could be inviting accidents. For example, what if he's taking a turns so fast to trigger VSC/VDC often and there's something that triggers a loss of traction (e.g. wet out and a manhole cover or something, unexpected dip or bump midturn causing unexpected weight transfer and traction loss). That could be a recipe for disaster if there are adjacent cars.

I used to have a 350Z and would take some turns quickly but in it but it wasn't the case most of the time.

BTW, another possibility (if the engine was already warm) is he was hitting spark knock or close to it, and the engine had to cut power or retard timing to prevent spark knock. My Gen 2 Prius (different engine than the OP) running on 87 octane sometimes has spark knock on hot days. I now tend to run 89 or 91 octane in the summer to prevent it.

 

So how does that relate to the AC being better???

Oh well,, have a good hot weekend !!

(I think you were accelerating over patches of hooker sweat and gambler tears but couldn't see it for all the blinking lights. Traction Control don't give a chit)