Next Toyota Prius to get electric all-wheel drive

I guess the front-rear wheel drive electric motors make sense. Rear wheel drive is limited to 37 mph, but I wonder if they will utilize both motors while taking off from a stop? I know the Atkinson (sp?) ICE is lacking in torque, so 2 electric motors would really get it up to speed quick.

 

Sounds like a really goofy rumor. I think it's possible that Toyota might sell an AWD/e-4WD version or make it an option, but I doubt they'd want to make it standard across all models. Seems like extra cost and weight to me.

After all, Prius is the top selling car in CA, yet most of us in CA don't need AWD/4WD. And, Toyota's sold millions, despite them being FWD.

 

The launch is really determined by the battery, which has much less power than the motor. Unless the awd version has a more powerful battery, it will mainly be for traction in rain/mud/snow - still that is what kept my cousin in snowy upstate ny from buying one.

The rumor was a e-awd option. The base gen IV prius is supposed to still be fwd with a nimh battery, although in the last interview toyota declined to comment on the battery. The weight is supposed to drop around 150 lbs.

 

I started to reply but got hung up on:

The "37 mph" gave it away.

Bob Wilson

 

lol. I don't believe that is a fixed number but only a proposed one. I'm guessing that is an engineering goal for efficient operation of the motor from 0-60 kph. It may be the same motor as mg1 or mg2 with fixrd gearing to the rear wheels. Again only a rumor, on two sites, then many copied them. Its the internet.

 

...well you can't beat 75 MPGr is a lot better than 100 MPGe

r = really
e = excu-u-u-se me

 

Toyotas have had their faux 4WD/AWD since late 2005 ... introduced via our 2006 RX-400h Lexus. Later - they put in in to hyhi too. It's a far cry from the real traction one gets in a jeep with 2 positraction axles. Even with studs, we've still had traction loss on our 400h. And most of us know what can happen when the hsd spins up with no tracion.
.

 

I hope there will be improvement in those 9 years - 2005-2014 It may be just a check box though, or might not even make the car I haven't a RXh or other Toyota faux eAWD. Theoretically an electronic system should be able to react faster than a mechanical one, but that requires good sensors and software. Additional weight and cost should be lower than a mechanical system also. Has anyone driven the latest model RXh or HiHy to tell if its improved?

Perhaps toyota will provide it as part of a handling package with lithium - perhaps required for taking the extra regen, and better traction tires.

 

Here is the new rumored Prius:



from: New 90mpg, 4WD Toyota Prius shapes up | Auto Express

If Toyota steals some engine features from Mazda's DI Skyactiv technology, converts it to Atkinson cycle and combines with hybrid, more power and 60-70 MPG EPA is doable.

 

I thought that regen was already limited by the battery charge rate, not the motor. So my guess is that the additional motor, alone, won't help.

 

Zero% Chance the next gen Prius will look like this. So trust me. Before the 2010 was revealed -they had so many lame a$$ pictures of what the Gen III was supposed look like - it was ridiculous. Even after they previewed/revealed the gen III to a handful of us PC'rs ... folks continued to publish wackey concept pictures of how the prius was supposed to be. I'm sure the goofy pictures will continue ... just like before.

SGH-I717R ? 2

 

Ya, I remember early Volt concepts made it look like a freakin futuristic sports car.

I doubt they stray a ton from the "Prius look."

 

That is true, but there is nothing that says the 4wd version won't have a lithium or higher power nimh battery to take advantage of it. That would also give it more hp, which may be a selling point.

 

Typically more power means more cost. As it is, Dianne says there's no chance that the V will ever come in a PiP version ... too expensive. If that's the case, logic follows more power (bigger pack?) would make cost infeasible.

SGH-I717R ? 2

 

Ford is saying that their li in the fusion is 30% less expensive than the nimh that panasonic was selling them.

We are talking 2015 when this beast goes on sale. I would expect it to cost Toyota about $400/kwh. A 1.3 kwh lithium should have about 20% more power than a nimh and likely a 20% larger SOC in management, if it costs toyota $520, how much cheaper could that nimh possibly be? $100? I don't know the mark up, but I would think that would be reasonable to pass along to the customer. If the car is built in North America, a lithium pack should be at a lower cost to toyota than nimh.

As to Diane being privy to whether toyota is going to come up with a prius v phv in 2015, that is doubtful. Sales people don't get informed. The car magazines will no before the car sales person.

 

AWD drive plug-in getting 70-100 mpg (20EV mode for me) for my driving would get my business in 2015. Right now I'm leaning toward the Fusion plug-in, a good looking hybrid with many of the safety options Toyota charges thousands for offered standard, auto/on/off lights, DRL's, auto night mirror.

But AWD drive hybrid/EV, 100mpg, it's the ultimate driving goal.

 

Forget that restyling junk. An option for using the Prius as a whole-house backup generator would be useful.