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View Full Version : Prius 6-Door Limo Goes To Great Lengths For Hybrid Efficiency


Chuck
09-07-2009, 06:57 PM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Yes, the 2006 and 2007 models rolled into one limo (http://inventorspot.com/articles/prius_6door_limo_goes_great_lengths_hybrid_efficiency_32266)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/prius_limo.jpgSteve Levenstein - INVENTORSPOT (http://inventorspot.com) - Sept 6, 2009

Would love to know how the extra seat impacts it --Ed.

Coming after the innovative yet outrageous Prius Hearse (http://inventorspot.com/articles/prius_hearse_makes_your_last_road_trip_green_ride_29351), the Prius Limo stretches the concept of hybrid efficiency to new heights... or should we say, lengths.

While just a one-off concept project at the moment, the Prius Limo is a viable vehicle for our eco-mad times. Bridging the gap between traditional limousines and compact sedans, the Prius Limo could be a nifty alternative for those who need the roominess of an SUV or minivan but want to be driving something more friendly to the environment - not to mention more frugal at the gas pumps.... http://inventorspot.com/articles/prius_6door_limo_goes_great_lengths_hybrid_efficiency_32266

WriConsult
09-08-2009, 02:13 PM
Not the first time a stretched Prius has shown up on this website (first one was a one-off DIY, IIRC), but this has great promise as a minivan or 3-row SUV replacement. Yes it's long, but probably no longer than some pickups and a reasonable price to pay for great FE in an 8 passenger vehicle.

Not reasonable to expect full EPA testing of course, but a 50mpg claim from the builder is pretty meaningless without knowing what the same person gets in a normal Prius. I would expect a 10-20% hit in city driving, but without knowing the weight increase resulting from the stretch it is impossible to come up with a very good guess. Highway FE could be the same as a standard Prius or even slightly better (longer shape should yield a lower Cd with no increase in overall frontal area).

Nevyn
09-10-2009, 10:00 AM
Extra length = more battery room? That's where I'd go with it.

zjrog
09-10-2009, 01:57 PM
It should fit where I park my F150 Supercrew. In my garage. Interesting. While I know most here would be concerned with its mileage hit, I'm more curious about the performance hit the extra weight of the car and potential payloads will have. A Prius I might actually consider!

hobbit
09-10-2009, 02:17 PM
I think it's the same one-off. There was a *huge* thread on
Priuschat about it, which spent a lot of its time arguing whether
some of the first on-road shots were a photochop job, but at
this point the builder/owner is known [although I can't find the
details right now] and I've got a bunch of the making-of pictures
that Steve Woodruff sent me a couple of years ago.
.
_H*

phoebeisis
09-10-2009, 03:33 PM
It looks about 30"-35"longer,so about 210". It is shorter than my 1998 Suburban. I would guess maybe 500-700 lbs heavier since it would need some stiffening so it didn't sag.

It should get hy mpg of just a little less than stock.City mpg-maybe 20% down?? So it would be 50mpg at 60 mph and 40 mpg in careful city driving??

I like it. It is the Prius SW-sorta'-I want. Another 2-3 feet of passenger room.
Charlie



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