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4th generation coming 2015!

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by edmcohen, Nov 6, 2012.

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  1. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    That kinda the idea!
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Anybody caught this bit?

    Only this article mentions it. The other ones (autoblog and motortrend) didn't. I wonder where they got this tidbit from.

    If true, this would put it back to the same weight as the 2004 model (the 2005 gained 25kg for some reason according to the brochure)
     
  3. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Catholics call them Habits.



    image.jpg
     
  4. jameskatt

    jameskatt Member

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    I wish the new Prius is going to be as quiet as the new Chevrolet Cruze Diesel. The Chevy has a lot of sound proofing. You can't even hear the diesel engine.
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I hope they found some sort of lightweight sound absorption material because Toyota is going to have to balance between weight and sound proofing (among other weighty items).
     
  6. walter Lee

    walter Lee Hypermiling Padawan

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  7. e^2

    e^2 New Member

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    Side window sill hight lowered 3 inches.
     
  8. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Green Car Congress: Toyota targeting thermal efficiency of more than 45% for next-generation gasoline engines for hybrids

    You are welcome. :)

    The paddings make it look like Gen3 Prius. I think it is going to have a hybrid look between Prius and CT200h. The hood looks to be lower. The rear hatch angle is higher.

    If it is lighter and drives better with more efficient ICE, wowie! The gen4 plugin version may weigh less than a regular gen3. (y)
     
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  9. ryogajyc

    ryogajyc Active Member

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    This seems to be fixing a symptom, rather than the root cause. Ergonomically, the seat should be moved back so that tall people have good leg support from the seat alone with straight, instead of splayed legs resting on things to the side. I believe the seat can be moved back far enough for this, though seat rail extensions may be necessary. The actual problem is that the steering wheel doesn't telescope far back enough to allow the seat position to be so far back.

    I'm not that tall and I find the steering wheel doesn't telescope back far enough. It's better in the Gen 3 than the Gen 2, but still not enough for me.
     
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    So that's for the next generation of engines. They may not show up until the Gen 5 Prius (or show up in the TCH first).

    The current engine family ("R") were launched in the mid to late 2000s and they typically have a life cycle of 10 years in production. (The previous engine family, "Z", was launched in the late 90s)
     
  11. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    Understand, this is pure conjecture. I am not arguing the case, and will not defend it.

    Might the pictured "mule" be a 2014? While differences can be seen, it is still very similar to the 2010-2013. Might this be the next natural evolution of the G3 design, and not a 2015 at all, which from all reports will be a much different design? It is only the auto magazines that labelled the photos that of a 2015.

    Thoughts?
     
  12. walter Lee

    walter Lee Hypermiling Padawan

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    There are two simple but problematic ways to tweak(get an incremental increase from a engineering modification) the G3 for better fuel efficiency: 1) lower the curb weight by +200 pounds and 2) reduce the frontal aerodynamic surface area. The first increases city fuel efficiency the second increases highway fuel efficiency. The first requires mechanical and material science wizardry so it requires hard work and a bit of luck. IMHO the easiest way to lose weight is to switch from a NimH to Lithium Ion battery tech keeping the same power-current capacity and opting to lower the curb weight instead. The second requires a loss of internal space and might make the vehicle less appealing to consumers so its a risky move too. The easiest modification to lowering the frontal aerodynamic surface area of a G3 would be replace with external side mirrors with cameras the most involved would be to downsize the unibody frame ( however because Toyota Prius did poorly on the new partial side-corner frontal collision test this is not outside the realm of redesign pathways for G4) . In both cases, handling around tight turns can degrade unless the weight is redistributed carefully so that the center of mass and center of gravity is shifted to keep or improve handling of tight turns. If you see your "mule" going around at tight turns at high speed on a test circuit - it is highly likely Toyota has changed the curb weight of the vehicle and is testing out the test vehicle's new center of mass and center of gravity configuration.
     
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  13. Prius NZ

    Prius NZ Junior Member

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    What's wrong with the torsion beam?
     
  14. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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    I really wouldn't mind some interior carbon fiber, let's say in a designated sport trim of the next Gen Prius. it goes so well with black dash imo, Please! and don't forget a carbon fiber rear spoiler!
     
  15. priusplusowner

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    This is of course a 4 gen prototype. The logic thing to do by Toyota is to 1) keep current custom base of Prius and 2) attract new buyers. Look at how Apple works with the iPhone design, Incremental changes but still keeping the iPhonelook. This is exactly what Toyota does and it makes totally sense too. They have the worlds largest hybrid customer base already. By refining the design and improving the fuel efficiency they hope to keep the current customers and attract new ones. The changes suggest by the photos is in line with this philosophy. Toyota wont do anything drastic in design with the Prius. It would make them loose customers. The ideas of 2014 model heavily masked isn't very realistic. Neither is the sci fi idea of selfdriving cars. The CT200h interior dash is probably just a test thing. Maybe the changed wind shield shape makes it impossible to use current 3 gen dash or Toyota just dont want us to see the upcoming dash. The most probable answer is though that it isnt testing ready yet because they have prioritized the new THS and the body of the car.
     
  16. priusplusowner

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    This is highly improbable. The competition in hybrids forces Toyota to launch a new significantly more efficient engine in two years. Otherwise Prius wont be ahead of competition anymore.
     
  17. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I agree. The sky active engine "mazda" gets 40 mpg with no hybrid technology at all.
    Makes you think what the possibilities are with hybrid!

    Alan.. Sent with GS4
     
  18. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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    40 mpg combined is great!
     
  19. stuckpixel

    stuckpixel Junior Member

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  20. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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