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The designer of the 2016 Prius speaks out on his decision of the final design

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by heyphillip, Nov 23, 2015.

  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    okay, that's 4. or you may have been one of the 3.:p you can't listen to the auto media, or they wouldn't be making any alt fuel vehicles at all.
     
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  2. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    My point is that they were listening to more than the three people on here that were complaining - many more, myself included, were complaining elsewhere, and never would have come here in the first place to be one of the three. (Which means I'm not the fourth, I count towards a different much larger number of non-PriusChatters that were complaining - I wouldn't have come here.)

    Now, of course, many of those same people are complaining about the styling, but hey...
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i have read a lot of gen 4 postings, and you are the first one i recall who said they finally bought a prius because they finally fixed the handling.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i have read a lot of gen 4 postings, and you are the first one i recall who said they finally bought a prius because they finally fixed the handling. in fact, two former constant whiners don't even post here anymore, and they didn't buy a gen 4.
     
  5. MrMischief

    MrMischief Active Member

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    You can add me to the list as well.....

    I looked at the prius before, hated the looks hated how it drove. When I saw the gen 4 I thought I'd give it another chance, found the driving dynamics to be more tolerable (maybe I'm just getting old), so I bought one. Had it looked like the new one but drove like the old one I probably would have passed on it.
     
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  6. MrMischief

    MrMischief Active Member

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    YAY!!!! DUPLICATE POST!!!!
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i sit corrected. :p i guess we need a poll.
     
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  8. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    You had a very different set of expectations. That was quite obvious. So, no surprise you don't like the narrative that played out. Reaching to expand the market requires breaking away from the original formula. Any comments about a specific item of change?
     
  9. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    I have no "expectations" .... only trying to understand and make an early assessment of several hybrids. If you were to read all my post on this and other forums, you would discover I am very objective, and identify many things I like about each of the cars I evaluate. Unfortunately, the only question that can be somewhat determined merely from pictures, is the appearance .... and that IMHO, is the Prius' greatest weakness. Technologically, the Prius appears (and this is an "expectation") to be far superior to all other hybrids I have studied ... but pictures do not confirm or contradict the technical, handling, comfort, fit and finish aspect of the vehicle. A visit to a showroom and a test drive will be required to make that judgement.
     
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  10. cmth

    cmth Active Member

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    I just cannot understand the need for this complex marketing analysis really. Toyota have a winning formula in their HSD design, IMO all they had to do was:

    * Derive Gen4 off NS4 design also attempting to improve on performance a bit - would have been much more appealing

    * Offer e-4wd option on the C-HR - that product would have been unique, unmatched and much more appealing

    * At one point (when NS4 was hot news), there was a rumor that HSD Gen4 will feature a 2.0L ICE, I think that would have been the key

    But what do I know, right ?
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The 2010 and 2016 brochure front pages:

    IMG_5692.JPG
     
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, gen 3 really starting to look dated!
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think the two brochures illustrate an attitude change at Toyota, or at least a "declared" attitude change. The 2010 is at rest, calm, with green/serene background, has the stock 15" wheels with covers. The 2016 appears to be in a four wheel drift, at night, has the (speed blurred) 17" rims, looks like a coupe, in race-red, sorta snarling. They're REALLY pushing "edgy edgy", good for them I guess.
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Finally found this video:



    The first 3 minutes for me, illustrate the 180 degree shift in Toyota attitude, lol.

    Stuff stashed, stuff stashed...
     
    #154 Mendel Leisk, Oct 13, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2016
  15. Dragon Rider

    Dragon Rider Active Member

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    I had the Gen 3 for 4 yr . I like both of them. The only thing that bothers me with Gen 4 is that I am getting every rock hitting my grillle or the hood of the pip. Gen 4 is a lot lower to the floor. If the Prime could do 200 miles . They be a list waiting for them . Demand is everything.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Just for completeness.


    upload_2016-10-13_19-48-44.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-50-13.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-50-32.png


    upload_2016-10-13_19-49-10.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-51-2.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-51-27.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-52-19.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-52-41.png

    upload_2016-10-13_19-53-3.png
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Thanks for that!

    2008 seems similar to 2010 somewhat.

    Also 2002 and 2016?
     
  18. grape808

    grape808 Active Member

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    I know it's not the designer's intent but 2002 looks like the Prius is stationary while the world around it moves.
     
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah but the 2016 is more dramatic. It's definitely emphasizing its "sporty" pretensions.

    It was a common theme for 2002. But I suppose the background for the Camry is not as blurry as the Prius'

    upload_2016-10-14_21-25-10.png
     
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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Panning to follow a moving car with a fast shutter speed.
     
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