Next up for the Prius Family - The Prius t for Truck?

I think the Prius family should be built and designed with these in top priority, and in this order:

1) Fuel Economy

2) Purpose


IMO, this truck doesn't look very fuel efficient. (It does look good tho)

 

I don't think there are any trucks out there that have a CVT or similar type transmission, probably can't handle the torque/weight.

 

Bring back the little four cylinder TOYOTA pick up trucks! I'm all for that!

I'll still be driving a car, but I think the four cylinder trucks are a great alternative for consumers compared to the full-size gas guzzlers.

 

The concept looks great. If it stays nice looking and can keep the MPG in the high 30s I'd buy one! I could really use the ground clearance and the bed.

 

Electric motors have much more torque than gasoline engines at zero rpm. I'm sure Toyota can modify the HSD to leverage this benefit. As for the transmission, perhaps certain parts could be more reinforced and stronger than other components.

 

Just a reminder that no Prius so far has ever had a CVT transmission, so there is little reason to suspect a Prius truck of having one either. GMs 'two mode' full size trucks use a less automated version of epicylic gearing that the Prius (and Volt) use, so it CAN be ramped up to truck sized.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicyclic_gearing"]Epicyclic gearing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Hybrid_Cooperation"]Global Hybrid Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_Synergy_Drive"]Hybrid Synergy Drive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]


If you insist that the HSD is a CVT, then yes, all the GM 2 mode pickups had CVTs as well.

General Motors | GM Vehicle Search | Find your Car, Truck, or SUV

 

Ground clearance is the bane of the current Prius lineup. A truck and/or AWD will be a welcome addition to the "Prius family".

 

Would love an awd Prius

 

The only compact truck left is the Ranger. An old, but practical, design that gained a couple years more of life do to the gas price spike a couple years old. This will be its last year.

I believe fuel economy regulations may have been the death of the compact pick up. At least was another tick against keeping them. Truck mpg targets were going to be based upon the vehicle's footprint. The target climbs exponentially the smaller the foot print. So smaller trucks would have a tougher time meeting CAFE than larger. While still being usable as a truck.

Other factors were certainly involved. There's the possibility of the smaller truck competing more with the larger, and the larger likely has better profit margins. In the Ranger's case, it probably needed a redesign in order to meet safety regulations.

I think most people who want a truck would be happy with a smaller one. They aren't that fuel efficient though. Actually the current full size trucks have really improved. With a manual, the 4x2 Ranger is rated 27 on the highway. It drops to 24 with the automatic. The 2011 F150 3.7L V6 and 3.5L ecoboost match it, or are within 1 mpg.

Of course, dropping a 6 speed auto into the Ranger will give it a mpg boost. Would it be enough though for it to be a sales success? I think most truck buyers place capability over fuel efficiency. It's important, but if sticker price gets close to the larger model, and that model does a couple mpg less while being able to haul more, they'll choose the larger. Even if they don't use that extra capability, the larger truck will most likely handle the load size of the smaller truck better. It's the Insight II v. Prius arguement for truck people.

 

+1

But significant engineering would be required. Isn't there a technology-sharing agreement with Subaru?

 

More at ...

Prius Pickup Possible, Toyota Says - PickupTrucks.com News

 

Not sure I care that much for the A-BAT styling, but I suspect that a high mpg Prius pickup would be a big seller ... IF ... it were a real pickemup and not a wannabe.

Lots of folks have a real need for a pickup ... and who realistically wouldn't want to spend less on fuel. Neither the standard Prius or the new v make an effective pickup. A Prius pickup might be a big seller ... more so if AWD :smokin:

However it begs the question? Is every new hybrid to be branded as a Prius variant?

 

If it could maintain a reasonable amount of fuel efficiency, that would be awesome!

 

No, no, no, no, no.

Take a classic Toyota Tacoma. Put a HSD in it. There ya go. Is that so hard?

 

Is a diesel electric train heavy enough?
How about Haulpack dump trucks used in mining.
Or are you talking about toy trucks like F series utes and the like?

 

I doubt Honda or Ford will call theirs Prius.

 

Very cool looking truck. Finally something different.

 

Every new ... Toyota ... hybrid

 

Yes they will. I also don't think Hino will call their hybrid truck a Prius. Hino are part of Toyota.