Prius V image leaks ahead of Detroit reveal

I think Toyota will very soon admit that the Prius V is essentially a slightly rebodied version of the Toyota Verso MPV now on sale in Europe.

Why this model? Because it appears Ford will likely offer a hybrid version of the upcoming Grand C-Max MPV that will likely arrive in the USA late fall of 2011. And Honda is overdue for a replacement for both the Stream and Edix/FR-V MPV's, and they could offer a new MPV with a modified IMA drivetrain within the next two years for the US market.

 

This is one ugly car. I think it is a mistake to make a family of Prius cars. It distracts from the uniqueness of the current Prius, that for 2010 was redesigned to not look as ugly as previous versions.

 

I would agree. +1

 

If the weight of this car is significantly different (read higher) than that of the current Prius 2010, they'd better give it a more powerful HSD - the Prius is not a rocket - put more weight on it, and it does not move anymore...and it will surely not sell at all in Germany.

 

The image is Photoshopped from a Toyota's official Prius image.

Ken@Japan

 

"What does V stand for?"

-- Vile

 

Although nobody knows for sure (Toyota may reveal it at Detroit in January), the consensus speculation appears to be that "C" stands for "compact" and "V" stands for "van."

Although less popular speculations have been that the "V" stands for "Vicious" and the "C" stands for either "Cognizance" or "Concise"

Of course, they could just be Roman numerals.

 

With oil climbing back up this might be launched at a great time. Again a 45MPG van would be great especially since the Sienna and its competition is so big now. Only the Mazda 5 is a minivan lol

 

If this doesn't seat at least 7 I will be very disappointed...

 

Prius V is probably not van, but five-door (as in Roman numeral) - and although the Prius is already a five-door by most definitions (but could more readily be called a fastback), adding a more vertical rear hatch would likely more fit the definition that most use for "V". The Matrix is also unofficially known as a Corolla V... well, that's my guess, anyway.

 

I'm hoping the price of oil stays up. It's excellent that it is up right now for the launch of the Leaf and Volt, and I'm hoping it stays up through the launch of the Prius V, Prius C, and the Plug-in Prius. I've made it a habit to look at gas pumps to see what the people before me paid, and I'm seeing SUV drivers paying in the $80s. Yesterday, I saw an $89.87 at the pump. I'm not sure why people complain about the slightly extra cost of hybrids, when the spend $400/month on just gasoline for their SUVs.:ballchain:

 

Vendetta, obviously...

Where'd you get the 43 MPG? I'd be surprised, even with Toyota's expertise on hybrid technology, if a 7-seater like this could do any better than 40 mpg combined.

 

I can't see how this could have a third row of seats and actually fit anybody in them.

The Mazda 5 won't be the only competitor, as Ford has a C-MAX van coming next year based on the C platform. I don't think the Mazda is based on that, so this should be a new product, not just a Ford version. Still too small for me, however.

Bring the Estima hybrid van to North America and I'm in. I need more space than a shoebox for my family.

 

Actually, from what I've read, the Mazda5 is based on the same Ford C1 platform used on the all Ford and Mazda compact-based models since 2006. Indeed, the new Ford C-Max may have dimensions very similar to the Mazda 5 itself, though the interior space flexibility is more advanced on the C-Max than on the Mazda5.

If the Ford C-Max can accommodate the drivetrain from Ford Fusion Hybrid, they could have a direct Prius V competitor in very short order.

 

the mazda5 is on the same platform

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C1_platform]Ford C1 platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

What could this possibly add that the current Prius doesn't already do?
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if this is sitting on a dealer lot next to the current Prius, why would you buy this over the current Prius, and more specifically is it worth Toyota's investment and cost to develop and produce a second vehicle (this picture) to sit on the lot next to the current Prius?
I suppose if the styling was better (let's assume the car in this pic is the size of a Honda Fit) like a Scion (appeals to youth; not us older people) or a Fit or a Yaris, I could see it outselling the current Prius (not that the current Prius is ugly - but I think there are a lot of people out there that think there are other cars that look better).

 

It would much easier to carry ladders in it
Somepeople have different needs then you

 

I would buy this over a current Prius.

The reason is because we have a sedan, and what we need/want is something bigger for trips, carrying things & people, the dog, eventually when we have kids. We don't need two sedans...and the Prius is essentially a fastback sedan. Make it AWD as an option (doubt that) and we'd be even more likely to buy it.

When the Gen III came out I really wanted to trade our Gen II because the Gen III was much more comfortable. My wife said...and she's right...it makes no sense to trade the Prius in on another Prius, because we're going to need/want something bigger.

Our plan is to buy something within the next 1-2 years, budget of $40,000. I'd like a Grand Cherokee or a new Explorer or something like that...Highlander maybe (they're a little pricey)...she wants a Minivan.

So...there are people who would buy this...