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Featured Mitsubishi delays Outlander PHEV yet again for the US

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Tideland Prius, Aug 4, 2016.

  1. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    poor hill.:(
     
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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  4. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    At this rate, they will be coming with other phev CUV coming out soon. All advantage is gone.

    I don't blame them though. Why sell here in the US probably discounted, when they can sell in Europe for max profit.

    Hopefully Honda, GM, Merc, or Volvo will be ready next summer or fall.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. nothing is selling here right now, unless it consumes fossil fuels at enormous rates.
     
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  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    This is where Toyota can step in.

    They know SUVs are still selling strong (look at the RAV4 sales).

    Come out with a RAV4 Prime, try to resist the temptation to price it too much up and over a RAV4 Hybrid and market it slightly differently. Yes the people who want the RAV4 V6 back won't buy a R4P but if they can balance it for power and fuel economy (and not just purely fuel economy like it is for the Prius), they might be able to steal some sales from people who are waiting for the Outlander PHEV. Right now, the R4h is almost a no compromise vehicle. It pretty much retains the cargo space (slight bump on one side), has AWD-i, high ground clearance (well, same as the gas version), it's faster to 60mph than the gas version and saves enough fuel to make it a consideration.
     
  7. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Yes, your logic is crystal clear - & tons of others agree - so now all we need to do is convince toyota;

    [​IMG]

    Remember - despite over 400K handwaving $1,000 deposit holders, Toyota is sticking to their script, as stated by Toyota's advanced tech mouthpiece Craig (foot-in-mouth) Scott;
    Carmakers prepare to shift to hydrogen fuel cells - LA Times

    yea, that poor slob will have his words etched on his gravestone - & those who come to pay homage - may very well arrive in the very transportation he refused to acknowledge folks want. They certainly won't arrive in the few hundred hydrogen vehicles they've managed to push on a few people & municipal agencies.
    But don't forget, even the RAV4 hybrid isn't really anything new. Toyota & Ford cross licensed this Tech many years ago - & what came of it in? Ford's SUV - the hybrid Escape.
    [​IMG] iirc over 65cu' of cargo space w/rear seats down. That means these little SUVs, which have grown progressively bigger, will have even more cargo & battery room.
    imo, Toyota's hydrogen tunnel vision has done nothing for them - other than constipate their plugin vehicle electrification. Let's cheer Toyota on as they play catch up.
    .
     
    #7 hill, Aug 6, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2016
  8. dipper

    dipper Senior Member

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    I am already waiting for Tesla Model Y to come out. Just need to drive the rav4ev out of extended warranty.

    Which is coming first? Model Y or Rav4Phev?
     
  9. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    It's a shame the outlander plugin in the USA is never any more than a bridesmaid - never the bride.
    .
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Almost every review said "what took (Toyota) so long?"

    Also, Ford came up with their own hybrid system. You know this. You're a long time member.
     
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    hang on now - Toyota & Ford's hybrids were similar enough that each other found their work similar enough to cross license. I believe we BOTH know that. AND, we both know that Alex Severinsky is estimated to get about $100 for each & every hybrid that BOTH Ford & Toyota manufacture, for impinging on Dr Severinsky's patent(s) . . . AND the suit stretched out to the old Nissan Altima too iirc.
    This was ~ 6 years ago . . . but I'm certain all us old timer remember
    :)
    This Man Fought Toyota For Stealing His Hybrid Tech And Won
    Once Ford threw in the towel . . . lo and behold Toyota finally stopped trying to wear down their plaintiff - because each of "their work" was so similar . . . . and similar to the good doctor's work.
    So . . . ringing any bells yet?
    And that's why my statement ... about the 2 company's hybrids being ... shall we say, VERY close cousins? ... and thus, not hardly a new thing.
    .
     
    #11 hill, Aug 7, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2016
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  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yup, that I can agree on :)
     
  13. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I followed the case closely and this is a case where the goal of patent law is in conflict with "obvious design." The original TRW patent, long expired, laid out the concept of the power split device. But in this case, the technical content granted was use of a microprocessor to manage the transmission. As such, every computer controlled transmission would (or should) have been at risk.

    The goal of patent law is to get new technology into the market place with fair compensation for the original inventor. But there has never been resolution of 'parallel development.' But in this case, the use of microcontrollers to manage electro-mechanical systems, that is so obvious.

    Toyota has paid a lot of what I consider to be bogus legal fees and court cases over the years. Not that all of them have been without merit. But they had an unfaithful lawyer and marginal suits. Still one good thing came out.

    Tesla has fully instrumented every car and everyone knows it. The old "Top Gear" got stung first but escaped slander because they said,"We are clowns and everyone knows it!" Unlike other manufacturers, Tesla gets and uses the data for effective defense ... defensive engineering.

    One of the untaught lessons learned in my career:
    • Practice defensive engineering
    • Paper work cuts both ways
    • Read the HR rule books at least once
    Bob Wilson
     
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