4th generation coming 2015!

What look is that? Missed something.

 

??. Hybrids are 3.x % market share, but that includes light trucks, SUVs. > 50% haven't woken up.

 

People will wake up. Thanks to American Car companies. I think all companies now develop Hybrids. Which is great, because I felt like Toyota stayed a bit stagnant with the 1st Prius - they seemingly upped their efforts. Let's see where the market takes us. The Gen III Prius was really the perfect vehicle in mpg, versatility, and almost in price. Hard to go beyond that. I would even say Ford's attempts are not quite there. And the plugins are a different category.

Volt is a good machine.

 

IN

I agree with your assessment overall. Re the Volt, it may be a "good machine," but it's niche is so narrow it is impractical for so many drivers especially in the west where the distances are so long. Hopefully, the second generation Volt will improve that limitation, which for me, is a 'deal breaker.'

 

But they just make them to meet certain standards. They don't market them as heavily as others.

 

OK. I will open myself up for a critical retort. I hate the dash pictured above.

That big round dial is absolutely hideous (in my opinion), and what is the blue 'flat' oval in the center?

I for one, hope that Toyota is not heading in that direction. What do you think?

 

I actually don't mind it. Looks futuristic. I notice the side mirrors also which seem to be thin because they are cameras? Is this legal lol? I would rather have a mirror alternative, I feel like trust in electronics has a limit.

 

So you are saying you want no part of a self driving car in a decade or two?

 

Maybe in the next decade. But yeah, I'm going to have to analyze the car further. Remember when GPS was invented or Google Maps? And some people actually drove to cliffs or off them because they didn't realize there were turns there.

I hope that the machine has safety features in that case. Self driving car wouldn't probably be out in at least 1 more decade.

It's like the Mac Eject button, software driven, when the OS had problem couldn't eject. When a door opens on its own, I can't speedily get in the car and leave for an appointment. Plus extra maintenance on electrical parts. If my door doesn't shut for some motorized reason, how the heck am I going to get it repaired?

 

Guessing that the car will have both, Mirrors with cameras mounted under them, maybe similar to Honda's blind spot lane watch; Honda Lane Watch - YouTube

 

The above wasn't directed towards me, but I would like to respond.

I have long thought that a wire (or some other device) could be imbedded in the highway, and a driver could position the car over the device, synchronize with the device, and then the car would communicate with the wire, turn, maintain speed and a safe distance from the car in front, and brake as necessary for turns and other traffic. Thus permitting the driver to visit, read, or text. I presume that technology is here, right now.

I cannot envision a total "self-drivng vehicle' even in a decade. I will be dead and forgotten long before the road is not still crammed with older cars, unless the Department of Transportation issues a regulation called the "Affordable, Universal Car Act" dictating that everyone must own a new, self-driving vehicle. But there will be still those that say the self-driving car is not fast enough, does't accelerate quickly enough, or the range is too short.

 

I know it's off topic so I will make this my last comment about self driving cars. I personally think it will happen piecemeal. For example, lane keep assist and radar cruise control are a couple steps. Automatic parallel park is another. Or I could be wrong and it will happen all at one time. Regardless, I am pretty confident that we will have a pretty full form of a self driving car available on the mass market within 15 years. Maybe 20.

 

I think you are way ahead of us in this subject. This may be the beginning of self-driving; at 6 min:40 seconds in the video.
2014 Acura RLX - YouTube

 

There's a good compromise. Not let your hands off the steering wheel. BUT I wonder how the Acura does on sharp turns if it does?

 

That is just flippin amazing!

 

I could see Toyota putting a lot of effort into self-driving cars. Function and safety over ergonomics and refinement.

 

That's where they try to win people over - price. Practicality is first and then ergonomics is just enough where you can custom and feel comfortable.

 

Supporting the Development of Appealing Seats
Evaluating seats using the entire human body | Our Passion | Toyota Boshoku Corporation

I appreciate what Toyota Boshoku (Toyota's interior designers) are saying, but I grow tired of hearing people talk about seats alone. If only the seat matters, then we might as well be in self-driving cars. Last time I checked, I have to operate a steering wheel and two pedals also. Shouldn't all of this fit and adjust well for a global customer base?

Or perhaps big and tall people should just buy pickup trucks and SUVs anyways, burn extra gas.