Russell Frost of "What Drives Us" Interviews Prius Chief Engineer

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by TonyPSchaefer, Dec 17, 2018.

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  1. Seamaster

    Seamaster Member

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    I thought folk might like to know that the black plastic covers have been reinstated — on my (fully loaded UK spec) 2019 Prius, at least. I was pleasantly surprised by this, as the naked painted door frames are still visible in the brochure shots.
     
    #21 Seamaster, Sep 8, 2019
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  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That’s nice. They removed It on our Prime/PHV for 2020 :(

    They way that the door frame is angled, the exposed door frames are visible from the outside :eek:
     
    #22 Tideland Prius, Sep 8, 2019
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    I went out and checked: black is all you see with the door closed. 2010 Canadian Touring level fwiw.
     
    #23 Mendel Leisk, Sep 8, 2019
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yea with the Gen 3. My neighbour has a 2020 Prime in white. I can see the white door frames from the outside.
     
    #24 Tideland Prius, Sep 8, 2019
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  5. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Saves weight? Every bit helps!!!
     
    #25 alanclarkeau, Sep 8, 2019
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Cost cutting. If you watch the interview, he says they did it “because everyone else in its class has done it”.
     
    #26 Tideland Prius, Sep 8, 2019
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  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Yep, I remember the video - and the chap's embarrassment. TOYOTA has made a big deal about keeping weight down with PRIUS & PRIME, with aluminium and carbon fibre. Not sure if they've drilled holes - but removing a few grams on a plastic bit could've been a good "excuse".

    MAZDA, meanwhile, on the MX-5 "... went to extreme lengths, shrinking the radiator, redesigning body bracing and drilling holes wherever possible to remove material without sacrificing strength ...".

    Anyone for polished aluminium bonnet and hatch - to save some weight (even more if the PRIUS is red)??
    upload_2019-9-9_8-24-48.png
     
    #27 alanclarkeau, Sep 8, 2019
  8. Seamaster

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    Is that true, though? I don’t recall seeing it on other cars in that class. Euro econoboxes, sure.
     
    #28 Seamaster, Sep 9, 2019
  9. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

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    Agree. My gen 4.5 absolutely sucks in the interior storage department. I mean, hard-to-live-with sucks. I've only ever driven one other Prius in my life, and that was for one 150-mile trip - it was either a Gen2 or Gen3, but it had storage solutions.
     
    #29 Mambo Dave, Sep 9, 2019
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  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It may be regional differences but the Mazda3 and Corollas here don’t have inner door frame covers.
     
    #30 Tideland Prius, Sep 9, 2019
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Just paint does the trick.
     
    #31 Mendel Leisk, Sep 9, 2019
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  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I’m a detail kind of guy. Exposed door frames just scream inexpensive or just laziness to me.

    But that’s just me. (At least there are no visible welds like really inexpensive cars).
     
    #32 Tideland Prius, Sep 9, 2019
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