Prius Minivan To Debut in March 2011, Named "Prius Alpha"

Adding this statement to the original Motor Trend article that Danny linked to, I don't see where Motor Trend seems to justify "in the final stages of development." Where did they get that info from?

Hybrid Expansion: Toyota Prius Alpha Mini-Minivan Due in 2011?

Original Motor Trend article:
Toyota Prius Compact Minivan Named 'Alpha', to Debut in March 2011 - Wide Open Throttle - Motor Trend Magazine

 

I think Toyota will double the MPG of a similarly sized competitor's vehicle.

 

GM had that strategy... look where that got them.

 

In my neck of the woods, that would be 5 Bubbas and a blue-tick hound.

Seriously, I know some big people who love their Scion xB, the original. It was the biggest, right-sized, cracker box and an excellent alternative to a pickup truck. It was a serious alternative to our NHW11 back in 2005.

Bob Wilson

 

No, but doesn't have to be. It needs to be more efficient than two Priuses, because a family of 6 can't fit in a Prius.

The Prius isn't as efficient as a car could be, but for its class it's about as efficient as it can be.

Consider the following: we have a Prius and a 2008 Civic AT. We also have an old 2000 Sable wagon we hadn't used since getting the Prius. The Sable has a seat in the back that can fit 2 people. One day we had to transport 7 people about 20 miles, mostly highway. It was more efficient to take the Sable despite its highway economy of 26mpgUS. It would have been more efficient than 2 Priuses. That's why people with large families have been crying out for an efficient hybrid mini-van, because for their requirements the Prius might as well not exist.

Because it wouldn't be as efficient as a van designed for fuel economy just as a Camry Hybrid isn't as efficient as a Prius.

As long as the others cars are designed ground up for high economy and are utilitarian (not sports cars or SUVs, for example) I think it's not just OK but apt to use the Prius name.

 

From the description to seems like this would hit the sweet spot for me. With a family of five, a Prius and a Sienna, I can say that a Prius is not large enough for more than a weekend trip. Plus you can't spread the kids out when they start getting on each other's nerves.

On the other hand the 05 Sienna fits into the "if is doesn't fit then your really don't need it and probably don't even want it" category. One of its seats even decorates our garage because we leave it out. It is really too large for an everyday driver (but to Toyota's credit, at the time we got it I couldn't find anything that was "big enough" that got better gas mileage).

A stretched Prius with a third row would be almost perfect. If they can get a little storage space behind the third row and 40 MPG then I would definitely be in the market.

 

Hi guys,

I don't know about N America or any other market, but I think this will sell okay in Japan. In Japan Honda sells a three row version of the Fit called the Freed. Nissan does the same with the Cube, calling it the Cube3 ("Cubic"?) Both will be smaller than this car.

In Japan, the demographic Toyota has not reached with the Prius is young people. Young families are far more likely to buy something with three rows of seats, such as a Wish. Any Japanese guy who sees himself as an outdoor type or a bit sporty will buy a full sized van.

So I think this car corresponds to the Prius in a much younger configuration. I think they could even lower the standard of the interior trim a bit to keep the cost down. I don't think that demographic would mind.

 

I don't know... Prius Beta doesn't sound good.

 

Thanks for the alternate perspective. I tend to agree that this will be directed to the JDM first and let the NA market pick it up if there's interest.

 

it's so effing ugly!

 

I'm keenly interested in this new minivan and suspect I'm not alone as I think there is a huge pent up demand for a hybrid minivan in the US. I love my 2010 Prius and find it has plenty of power so I would expect that this minivan would be as good or better in the power department. If this new Prius van were to come with AWD I would buy one instantly. Go Toyota - I think this is a brilliant market move.

 

Ugly? It's a Prius with a longer roofline.

So I guess you think your car is ugly? (BTW, nothing wrong with that - my wife doesn't really like the look of her Prius, but at 52+ mpg, she'll "suffer" with it, especially since she can't see the ugly from the inside).

I've been pushing for an AWD minivan hybrid for years, but it probably won't happen except in Japan - why they always get the best cars, when the need is here, I don't know.

 

Hummm, well a Prius minivan really needs to be 'evaluated' by Bubbas with a stack of 2x4s. <grins>

Bob Wilson

 

Better yet with a sheet of 4x8.

 

I am wondering if you ever tried to use any of the mini-van like vehicles with 6 or 7 (Aka Mazda5 , Kia Rondo, RAV 4, even high lander 7 seater) people before. I have kia Rondo which is a shortest 7 seater available which I thought very good idea, but I regret is every time I went out with my family, and/or friends family. If we open 3rd row, It does not even have place to keep stroller, let alone single suitcase, rear seat is dangerously close to rear hatch, and if any adult sit in that place more than an half-an hour, they would have to forget enjoying any thing in that trip/even after that trip.

We definitely do not want bloated Mini-van for sure, but make these usable on day to day basis. If any one remember the Mazda MPV (2000 to 2006) which is only 189 inches( same as many mid size sedans), smaller than many mini-vans by a foot and still very usable.

But some how instead of making that Van better, Mazda came with Mazda 5 which is not usable for 6 people at all for all practical purposes.

Assuming that this Prius Mini-van uses the space very efficiently, it could be one of those really usable mini-van without the bloat.

 

I saw the facebook posting of the new prius minivan and was SOOO excited. My husband (who has been talking about what car he gets to buy when my 2010 prius is paid off) actually said, "WOW. Guess we need to start working that into our budget. Think it will come here in 2012 then?"
We have been WAITING for the Toyota hybrid minivan for a while (baby #2 is due any day so no hurry up until now and I was ecstatic with the news. However, I have to agree with the posts here. It is missing the key points of a "minivan". I just assumed it would have at least one sliding door (2 seems almost a must with competition and in today's market) and a flat floor. Those are the perks of a minivan. I don't know anyone who says "I can't wait till I'm old enough and have a family so I can get a minivan." (Even though Toyota Sienna's 'swagger wagon' video totally make me want one
People get a minivan cause they have a family and it makes sense. As roomy as the Prius feels to me, I just put in our rear-facing carseat and now my husband (6'1") cannot sit comfortably in the front seat. He has to drive in order to have his knees not up against the front dash. And if you have 3 kids in carseats, forget it. You can't have a prius.
So to get the extra space, the comfort/ease of not having to lift kids up and down (they just get in on the flat floor and climb on up), and the accessibility of the sliding door...I just assumed those would be features. The price is right, the MPG sounds great (40 is very reasonable to me), and it's a Toyota Prius!!! But whereas before I said "we're getting it!", I now have to question this choice. I won't be ordering mine without sitting in it, test driving it, and making sure it really can handle a family (2 carseats, double stroller, groceries, etc.).

 

Can't wait any longer.

The Prii van is way to small to be usefull and the Sienna has no batteries in sight so I bought my Gen 2 Prius a new big sister- the 2011 Sienna Limited. It's mind blowing! However, the nav screen is not as crisp as the Prius even with the contrast on high.
The prius will always be my primary car but vacations belong to the Sienna, it's like driving your living room around.