Archives

The coming third generation Prius is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal cars Japan has ever produced. (http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/04/toyota-prius-ne.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Toyota_Hybrid-X_Front.jpgPeter Nunn - AutoObserver - April 28, 2008

Toyota’s Hybrid-X concept on display in Geneva last year.

The Prius-III’s possible power train specs and dimensions are finally released… possibly? Why longer and wider? -- Ed.

Imagine a Toyota Prius, but faster, cleaner and greener. Such a car is coming soon and will launch at the Detroit auto show in January 2009.

America has fallen for the Prius in a big way, no doubt about that. Five years on, through an extraordinary combination of style, engineering and marketing, Toyota's fuel sipping hybrid remains the absolute gold standard for eco cars in the industry.

The next generation, however, has all the makings of an even bigger hit. That's because it will be a touch bigger so offering more space. It will come with stronger 1.8-liter hybrid performance yet at the same time boast even better economy and class leading emissions, if early word is correct.

In other words, everything Americans like now about the Prius, including its unique design and crusading eco image, but in a 'smarter,' more high-grade package.

Yes, 2009 marks the point at which the Prius shifts gears and moves up to the next league. The Prius up until now has been just one model but as previously reported in AutoObserver, Toyota plans to spice up the action with a range of different Prius models as it closes in on its bid to be making 1 million hybrids per year by the early 2010s.

While it's still of course firmly under wraps, a well-placed Toyota source says the next generation Prius looks good. "Still Prius-eque, but a bit bigger and more solid looking."

Sources suggest that the next Prius will be some three to four inches longer and about an inch wider, but crucially will not be significantly heavier.

Environmentalists love the smooth, seamless power delivery of the Prius, its ability to run on clean electric power, its strong economy numbers and, not least, the pure, earth-friendly image it gives off… http://www.autoobserver.com/2008/04/toyota-prius-ne.html

Thanks for the find Larry!

Bigger, longer, wider... Why is Toyota going to route of American automakers? Honda has been suffering from this affliction too.

Bigger, longer, wider... Why is Toyota going to route of American automakers? Honda has been suffering from this affliction too.

I agree. I was hoping for a smaller Prius. Pipe dream I guess.

With everything I've heard about the Prius name possibly becoming it's own brand, maybe they'll come in different models under the Prius mark? :D Hey, I can be an optimist? lol :p

I was hoping for a smaller Prius.
Me too, my Prius is too big for me as it is...I just do not get it.

Hi All,

I think they are going wider to accomadate the 1.8 liter engine. And then longer follows to maintain the aspect ratio. Will one inch wider allow for three teenagers in the back seat? Doubt it. As far as the front seats go, they could have made the center storage box inch narrower for the same advantage. The 1.8 liter engine block is going to be the new high production block.

But, they just could be going up-market as the Camry Hybrid did not take off.

What's next, a Prius with dually rear wheels?

I want a smaller Prius, not a larger one.

Hoping Honda delivers...

Harry

why not just throw a HSD on a yaris???

Hi ATL:

___It is coming but Toyota has not said anything other than between 2011 and 2020.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

If the Prius III is a little bigger and a little stronger but is also a little more fuel efficient then it looks like not much changes on a net FE basis and the most likely thing not to like about it will be that the price tag will likely be bigger, too.

The writer says, "Toyota is also planning both bigger and smaller Prius-badged models as 'Prius' starts to become an eco brand all of its own. The tiny, two-cylinder, rear-engined 1/X concept from the 2007 Tokyo Show suggests what a future mini Prius could end up looking like." That would seem to indicate that we might someday get our wish for a "littler and cuter" Prius. :) I realize patience is a virtue but I've never been known for being a virtuous person. :p

why not just throw a HSD on a yaris???

I second that idea.

What's next, a Prius with dually rear wheels?

Harry

All I want is a height-adjustable seat....

All I want is a height-adjustable seat....


Hopefully one I can bolt into my '07!

Harry

Bigger and bigger has been the rule for Japanese cars in America (at least Honda). If any here remember the first Accords, they were tiny. They were probably smaller than the current Civic. I guess the automakers figure that they can intice you to buy the same model if, when you trade your old one in the new one has more of this and that. You get an ego boost and they get a loyal buyer and the profit.

Ultimately the size of a car doesn't matter, so long as it can post good FE numbers. Bigger, faster, more powerful and better FE, if it can all be done than the Prius is about to be a really big hit. The biggest weakness of the Prius is it's interstate FE, and if they can tighten up the aerodynamics and use a more effecient lean burn mode I expect some good things from them. I salute the engineers at Toyota.

I, too, have noticed that virtually all models of cars (not just Japanese) seem to grow when each new generation is unveiled. I have a theory that the chief designers see it as their child-----and expect it to grow accordingly.
The one exception seems to be the Chevy Impala----but perhaps it's so old now that it's like a senior and the designers are shrinking it's size accordingly. :)

I second that idea.
A HSD in a yaris makes too much sense. Never will happen. :rolleyes: Hope i'm wrong though.

Yes, they got similar or better mileage out of a bigger engine and car. But what if they had applied that same technology to the same-sized engine, or even a smaller one? Insight-like mileage in a midsize? Here's hoping...

Thats exactly what I'm wondering Andrew...

Hi All:

___With the Jeopardy theme song playing in the background …
Alex, I will take the Toyota Yaris w/ HSD-II for $15,000 Please :)
___Good Luck

___Wayne

Sorry for the quality of the cell phone snaps. At Toyota on the Avenue des Champs Elysées. They had an exhibit from Toyota European Design Development in Nice. (Aside - this is the land of the tiny diesel. Only ONE HCH-II and ONE Prius-II seen in the wild.)

First, two postcards:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/Toyota-Hybrid-Y.jpg
Toyota Hybrid Y? (Toyota Hybrid X?) The graphic says Y, the caption on the back says X.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/Toyota-Fine-T.jpg
Toyota Fine-T. (Also a hybrid, more Yaris sized.)

Now, crappy cell phone pics:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1502.jpg
Demo from the "école." With my "petites françaises" I couldn't tell if this is a teacher or student. However, note the clay carving tool in blur. (Italians have *nothing* on the French when it comes to speaking with hands.)


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1459.jpg
Full size clay mock-up, rough.


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1500.jpg
Clay mock-up, finish clay and showing applied "metal."


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1501.jpg
Full size show version of the Hybrid X.


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1504.jpg
Full size show version of the Fine-T.


Outside, a few crappy cell phone snaps:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1736.jpg
- Smart - Smart Smart - Yeah, this is why Smart Fortwo.


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1830.jpg
MINI - mini


http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h10/mrbill05/04-25-08_1545.jpg
And, finally, a Louise Bourgeois on L`Esplanade. (http://www.icaboston.org/exhibitions/permanent-collection/artists/bourgeois/) If nothing else, not to leave the impression that I'm a total geek.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Mona_Lisa.jpeg/401px-Mona_Lisa.jpeg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa)
I don't get it - at all. Why would a CROWD of people spend their precious moments with THE REAL THING looking at an LCD while taking CRAPPY PIC after CRAPPY PIC, or worse, a CRAPPY VIDEO?

-mr. bill

The tiny, two-cylinder, rear-engined 1/X concept from the 2007 Tokyo Show suggests what a future mini Prius could end up looking like." That would seem to indicate that we might someday get our wish for a "littler and cuter" Prius. :) I realize patience is a virtue but I've never been known for being a virtuous person. :p

Hmm...a mini Prius. Might I suggest calling it the Toyota Minus?

Toyota's game plan clearly includes convincing current Prius owners to trade in on the bigger and "better" 09 Prius... will probably work, which will help with the used hybrid market (and with record gas prices, the resale will be outrageous, making a trade-in all the easier for current owners...) Makes business sense, sell used to lower-income folks, new and big to those can afford it and have Prius loyalty; later on widen the market further. Let's just say I'll be on the "later on" wagon should an inexpensive Yaris hybrid appear.

I probably won't mind a few inches here and here as long as the mileage improvement is worth the cost. If they can convince that many more people that the vehicle really is large enough to replace that SUV in the driveway and still gets even better mileage than the current gen, so much the better.

With that said, I too prefer smaller vehicles. ;)

The Prius will get bigger, and another small hybrid will come along. No problem, as long as they continue to improve the smaller cars too. If the larger Prius will attract Camry and Corolla drivers than it is a smart move.

I guess the 09 Prius won't come out this Sept 08 at a dealer near you, when it'll come out in the 09 Detroit show.

I never understood these people that say the Prius backseat is too small. I really can't think of a car that I've been in that has a bigger back seat.

Well... the headroom is a bit cramped, and the cushions are a bit hard after about 72 hours. And I second the requests for more driver's seat adjustments.

I hope Toyota doesn't go so cheap on it and put everything as a center dash console for universal markets.

I think the redesign is a direct attempt to compete with Honda and, possibly the Chevy 2010-2012 models. The PIII will likely beat the Volt in FE in closed loop tests (ie take a volt and drive it 5000 miles nonstop). I would expect Toyota to introduce the PII+Plug option in line with the Volts launch.

Honda is a bit of an unknown. If they get the TDI here by 2012, I think toyota will just say "yeah, but it's not a hybrid" or something equally as insulting. But that kinda marketing works on lots of Americans.

Now as far as size and power goes, I think they are trying to have their cake and eat it too. If they think that they can hold the "most-fuel-efficient" crown at 46 mpg, they might as well up-size. This puts them in a position to counter the (unfounded) claims that the Prius is "too small" or "too slow". I'd say that the up-size is so that when it's parked next to a Volt, that the Prius looks "bigger". They will likely put some type of power-hybrid tech in there so that the 0-60 numbers on a fully charged pack are pretty eye-poping. This way they can compete with whatever numbers Chevy returns with the Volt.

In the end I think they are trying to position this as a Volt-Killer more than anything else. I have my doubts that the Volt will make 2012, but Toyota always overestimates its competition and they always end up designing great cars out of fear of the competition. This is exactly why they built the hybrids. They were afraid someone else would do it first (honda did).

11011011

Wasn't there some talk about there being 3 different Prius models for Gen III? Something like a two-seater, the standard mid-size, and a larger minivan type?

I tried finding a link but I couldn't find anything.

I think a bigger minivan-type prius is what it would take to get one in my garage. I/we made the mistake of going straight to the Odyssey, and now anything else is Too Small™. As long as there's an option for a smaller one as well, I think it's a good thing.