4th generation coming 2015!

Blue Man Group teaser for 3rd Gen Prius in Dec 2008 -

VIDEO: 2010 Toyota Prius teaser... now with Blue Man Group - Autoblog

* video deleted on all sites I've seen

Toyota officially unveiled 3rd gen Prius at Detroit NAIAS middle of January 2009.

Group of Priuschat moderators and others invited to an event to see one before it was released. Other VIPs got to drive pre-release models.

first 2010, 3rd gen Priuses arrived in US in May 2009 and I saw it test drove it pretty much the first day it arrived in SF Bay Area about middle of May.

That's how it went down.

 

I started with a 2010-II, then upgraded a notch to a 2012-Three. The 2012 has quite a few more changes than merely the tail lights and the 2->3 upgrade items.

 

You might not get 98highway if you do a round 100 mi trip in a Volt...

 

Why not.. 50 miles one way.. 30+ on electric only... right?

 

You never answered if you can charge at work (apologies if I missed it).
If you can, you likely would.
If not, you wouldn't.

 

yeah i can charge at work

 

Anyone else catch this ultra-brief article on hybridcars??

"A fourth-generation, sportier Toyota Prius, due more than a year from now, ... "

Next-Gen Prius Promises Sportier and More Efficient Performance - HybridCars.com

 

Bought my Prius for what it can do, not what it looks like.

 

I think this understeer you mention is what I've felt a few times when going a little fast into a turn but needing to steer through it. Makes me wonder if the car is going to make it through the turn or just run wide.

 

That's exactly what understeer feels like!

 

It very refreshing to hear that. Think of all the SUV owners who did exactly the opposite... the heavy-duty suspension and high ground-clearance combined with all that power, wasted.

Prius got mocked relentlessly for many years due to its practical look. The hatchback screamed convenience that no sedan could possibly compete with. To make matters worse, it was the only midsize hatchback available in this market. They were all compact & sub-compact back then. Add to that the 50 MPG owners were reporting, there was simply no way to avoid all the negative attention the supporters of other automakers could dish out.

Mainstream vehicles have a familiar look anyway. That's what makes them common and so easy to consider. With millions of Prius on the road now, other priorities are what compel consumers to take a closer look to see what else it has to offer.

Enjoy your Prius. Take advantage of it like I do. Load up the interior with cargo, toss some bikes on back or kayaks on top, then hit the road.

 

Read it last night. No real specifics, so it's still wait and see.

 

Prius needs independent rear suspension with some passive rear steer. Prius battery location seem to preclude this. But somehow, Fusion gets the job done.

 

There is one thing Prius (liftback) will have to contend with among many consumers: Limited rear hatchback view with spoiler bar across the middle. Doesn't bother me so much, but it gets negative comments. But, it has to have the spoiler in that position to achieve the Kammback shape, low Cd and generous interior room.

 

When I spend tens of thousands of bucks on a car you can be I care what it looks like every bit as much as I care about what it does! How looks are unimportant for a tiny minority of people making the second most expensive purchase in a persons life baffles me frankly. It takes all sorts I guess!

 

I suspect many negative comments come from those who haven't actually thoroughly experienced it.

I absolutely love the position of the split. It's the perfect headlight block for tailgaters.

And the lower section isn't needed for regular driving anyway. It's below the seat line, much lower and further back than a regular sedan would offer... which actually proves to be an advantage when parking.

 

Disregarding looks adds to Green credentials (i.e. I don't care how my car looks as long as it gets 400 MPGs or 500 mi per kWh, etc... )

Therefore Misubishi iMiEV drivers have a LOT of Green cred ...

Gawd that thing is hideous

 

The new 2015 model year zero emission pedal powered Prius?



Yeah yeah I know it's an old picture, but I love it and I love the guys colour coordinated helmet

 

I figure that paying excessive attention to image is part of the reason a great many of them will still be needing to work long long after I have retired.

 

I didn't buy my house based on looks either, and that's probably the most expensive thing I'll ever buy. Why people are so obsessed with the look of things (or people) I'll never understand.