My thoughts on the Prius product.

Technologically, I think the biggest advance was between gen 1 and 2.
In my eyes, gen 5 isn’t much better than my 2004, and in some ways has regressed

 

Demanding a 50-100% increase in efficiency while not increasing the costs isn’t going to get you anywhere.
There are always trade-offs. Want 240mpg? Sure you can have it, in a two seater car that costs $150k and can’t pass USA regulations.

If you want the most efficiency, you need to be willing to move to a new technology. Or, be willing to deal with a car with less capability and higher cost.

 

They made it better looking to try to increase sales that had been declining at least in the US. Though for every lost sale they sold a Rav4 or Corolla or Camry hybrid. Even my wife's Avalon uses much the same engine/transmission (terms used loosely) parts.

 

The main focus of the Prius was a very low emission family car. The fuel efficiency is an additional benefit to the low emissions. Past generations improved the fuel economy by about 10%. Which is likely what the 1.8L gen5 sees. This is done while keeping the car around the same price.

Getting more than that 10% means using more exotic, light weight materials and more advanced tech in the engine. That will increase the price. The people willing to pay for that are buying BEVs today.

It was more than looks. The new Prius has performance numbers that would once have required a V6 or intake charging to get. And it gets that performance while retaining the EPA ratings of the old model.

People going to the other Toyota hybrids; the Camry, Corolla, Rav4, etc. Is why Prius sales have collapsed in the US. Hatchbacks aren't a big seller here. When presented with the option, they'll pick the sedan or SUV.

Europe gets hybrid versions of the Corolla hatchback and wagon. Toyota isn't even trying to sell the Prius hybrid there. If they can't find a new niche for it that grows sales, the same will happen here.

 

To take advantage of prius gas economy of any year isn’t the driver lastly most important? They should make a 100 mpg car? Is anyone willing to do what it takes to get 100 mpg on the street with it? Just questions. So they make plug ins to get even more than 100 mpg, but you have to add electricity and it isn’t getting 100 on long trips on gas.
Looks are in the eye of the beholder. Some like bland styling, smooth lined, others buy Bugattis, Batmobiles, Gen 4, and such. Some want the inattention and social acceptance of a Rav4 or Crv in the parking lot. The extreme version being hybrid badge on the tailgate or front fender, not too big on the badge though.

 

For every lost sale, Tesla gained a customer

 

Oh yes , in my province , the no 1 seller was the Honda Civic fallowed by the Corolla , and that fact was constant for many years back .
The last two years the new King on the block is Tesla outselling the Civic even if the Tesla is higher priced than the Civic ......the Prius was way behind in sales. High price of gas,low electricity rates , and some incentives did play a role in this paradigm shift.

 

Even on the Chevy Bolt forum, people are trading for Tesla, or they own both

 

Ordering a Tesla is a snap,...a bolt in canada ..impossible

 

Agreed. Online with Tesla and a month for delivery.
For bolt, I had to keep emailing dealers and placing deposits and finally someone else canceled their order.
Similar to Prius.
And the dealers over msrp ripoff

 

And I won’t have it until later this year

 

Third gen went to "low-tension" piston rings, just to eke out a tenth or two of one mpg*. And the owners, (2010 till partway through 2014, when they revised the rings) are paying the price, with runaway oil consumption, commencing somwhere between 100K and 150K miles.

* Google "fuelly Prius", to see the diff in mpg of the 3rd gen earlier years vs 2015

 

I don't know what Elon Musk's intentions are , but he could really make a breach in the traditionnal car market ( not fixating on SUV) and conquer the Honda,Mazda,Nissan,Toyota ,Ford,GM,in the compact, or intermediate format.

 

I think those are his intentions, but these things take time.
Amazing what they have done in a few short years, despite all the pushback

 

By the Unadjusted EPA results (CAFE MPG scale?), the 2023 Prius actually achieves your target:


But EPA scale keeps getting increasingly discounted from CAFE test figures, to better reflect continually rising traffic speeds and changing driver styles (e.g. aggressiveness).

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/download.shtml

 

The Chinese will do this when they setup dealerships here. Approximately 1/3 of their cars in Chinese cities are now very affordable evs. Just 15 years ago most of these people were riding manual or electric bikes they bought at a local Walmart. Interestingly the famous coal burning pollution in Beijing is now gone since they electrified.