Why did they uglify the 2010 Prius?

Thanks for the history. Good stuff. Sounds like a fascinating company.

 

Yes, they make some amazing trucks. I particularly like the fully independent suspension at all wheel. The funny thing is that they are still using core concepts from cars they made a 100 years ago.

You asked some questions and I answered them, nothing more. It is very easy to make a car that gets 0.25 Cd, just put a group of engineers is a room and ban all stylists from the project. It is not technically challenging. The problem is getting the buying public to purchase that car.

As to whether the Tatra 77 or 87 look better than a Prius? Beauty is subjective. I happen to like the looks of the Tatras especially compared to their contemporaries.

As to the Prius, that is also very subjective. Look at this thread, Toyota changes a few details and now the Prius is "uglified". I know many people that think the Prius is a hideously ugly car. Many here love the looks of the Prius.

 

I'm not sure what the cd of Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion Car was, but it carried 11 people and got 30 mpg. In 1933.

 

What a beauty! (Talk about uglified!!) Not too safe, though, with a canvas top.


Picture found at: http://www.thirteen.org/bucky/gif/carpat.jpeg

 

No, it's not the most attractive design, nor the safest. But it's amazing what Bucky did given the state of the art at the time.

 

Truly, it is. Apparently, he took the good old Ford V-8 and put it in the back of the car (not far from the single-wheel that steered this 20' monster). Power was transmitted to the front two wheels on a Ford rear axle (mounted upside-down).

He figured a raindrop (teardrop) shape would be efficient, so he sized one up to enclose the Ford rear axle. 30 MPGs. 90+ mph. 1933. Not bad.

 

Oh come on. From an aesthetic standpoint the front end of the 2010 is blocky and chunky and just plain inelegant. Shame on Toyota.

 

You are entitled to your opinion.

Personally I prefer the look of the 2010 Prius to the 2004-2009. I wouldn't consider either elegant.

 

Looks are certainly subjective but I personally think the 2010 is a huge improvement over the current car. The single biggest improvement for me is the moving back and smoothing out of the roofline, that sloping rear line of the current car has always looked awful to me. The new front is more edgy and contemporary (its quite like the iQ) and I can see why Toyota has done it, to appeal to more mainstream buyers. If it also lowers the Cd (as it has slightly), and improves rear headroom its a slam dunk IMHO.

 

Audi A2 stopped production since 2005 due to poor sales isn't it? Like the 2010 Prius, they covered up the under body. It seems that's the only way to achieve 0.25 cd.

Looks are subjective but I think 2010 Prius looks way better than the A2.

 

I know I got beat to it but...

Lexus...the LS460 has a cD of .25. As did the LS430.