2009 Prius--What do we REALLY know?

Evan,

It seems fairly certain that, other than the $500 price increase announced yesterday, the 2009 Prius will be the same as the 2008. The 2010 Prius III is due to be officially announced at the 2009 NAIAS show that will take place Jan. 11 - 25, 2009 at Cobo Center in Detroit. The 2010 seems to be headed for the showrooms around May 2009.

Only a new body style and solar panels for the high end model have been discussed by Toyota. The 1.8L ICE and everyone's wish list will be the stuff of much speculation during the months ahead.

My personal speculation includes a new 8" "premium" navigation system with real-time traffic monitoring and On-Star type features. This is based on just receiving the second half-hour survey from Toyota in six-months. Both surveys were very detailed. Six months ago the survey focused on a wide range of navigation features. Last weeks survey seemed to have narrowed the choices down to a standard 6" navigation system and an 8" premium system with emphasis on initial installation cost for each system and on-going annual service fees for the "available" traffic monitoring and On-Star type features.

Gone are the days of charging $2,000 for an inferior navigation system and Toyota appears ready to finally offer interactive features. I HOPE THE LAWYERS DON'T FORCE THE "LOCKOUT WHILE MOVING" FEATURE AGAIN

 

i had to get a tire patched due to a nail and i was looking at the 09 prius book.
everything was pretty much the same and i do not remember a change in the
ICE.... seems i would have noticed that in the specs in the back.

 

The '09 is a carryover of the '08.

 

The brochure for the 09 was scanned and posted in another thread on this forum. Confirmed carry over from the '08 as said above.

 

We received the 2009 brochures 2 weeks ago. There are no changes in them at all. Toyota on Friday announced a $500 price increase on the new '09s arriving in Sept.

Typo? Did you mean to write 2010's? If so the only official word is that nothing is known for certain until the CEO speaks in January. But Toyota is doing a good marketing job of leaking good solid hints all around the world in anticipation of that announcement. It keeps the hype elevated and pressure to buy pumped up.

 

I think the auto mags speculate for the sheer pleasure of making money off curious
folks. if they were held to some standard of reporting of the facts... they would not
be as exciting and glamorous to read ;-)

 

Somebody must know, they probably have been gearing up the 2009 model for some weeks, to get them in the US for the September release.

 

it wont attach because of a priuschat error about a security token and to notify the administrator. i need someone to send me site info to where it can be uploaded

the place where it was (filemonster.net) seems to be down

its 15 megabytes

 

15 meg, hmm can you break it into smaller chuncks (part 1 of 3, 2 of etc) then could use Google docs & spreadsheets then link to it (them)


Importing and Exporting : Uploading docs - Google Docs Help Center

 

wouldn't i need the real acrobat program to break it into pieces? or i would have to
reprint it and then rescan it, as i threw away the originals, i could also break it
into smaller files using winrar, but free file hosting services are easier

latest link to download 2009 prius brochure
prius 2009.pdf - 2009, toyota, prius, brochure

 

you said it, can 't edit PDF files without spending $ - MediaFire works great, thanks !

 

I doubt the 2009 Prius would get a new petrol engine so late into its life, when all focus for Toyota engineers will be on the 2010 model. The only press I've seen in the UK mentions the 1.8L lean-burn engine with 100bhp and the new body.

Plus I read here that production of the Prius III will be in Mississippi for the American market only.

 

Dang, if they feel some 'need' to put it in the car I REALLY hope the 1.8 will be an OPTION. I would rather they increase the MPG in the current system (via electric range or whatever) than increase ICE power. From 110 HP to 160ish HP? Give me a BREAK, why would we need a nearly 50% increase??!! The car is just fine as is. Almost EVERY car on the road today is seriously over powered. And DON'T make it "If you want this feature or that feature, you HAVE to have the 1.8L".

Again, make it a SELECTABLE option, not a PACKAGE option. I'd like to see updated NAV DVDs at a REASONABLE price with info on WHAT areas changed so you could decide if it was worth your $50 (OR LESS). *I* am NOT interested in an annual service fee Nav system. OnStar 'Navigation' is akin to GMs 'mild hybrid' design. Not exactly stellar function.