prius performance

This is an enthusiast site, further self selected by those who regularly post. Therefore it's not unusual that a fair number of PC posters modify and otherwise play with the configuration of their Prius.

As for me, my Prius is as stock as you can get, except for new tires.

Tom

 

The problem at altitude is with a naturally aspirated engine. A well-designed turbocharged engine has no trouble at altitude. Back in June we went up Wolf Creek Pass in CO (10,585 ft) at over 80 mph in 5th gear with no effort at all at an with more power left. This in a 1996 Saab 9000 with 170K miles on the clock. Then again, this is a car that gets only 30 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. So speed and performance always come at a cost.

But a good turbo-motor in a Prius would be wonderful! It'd give plenty of power when you need it, but no penalty when you don't. Unfortunately the 13:1 compression ratio in a Prius gas engine makes useful turbocharging a dicey issue. The engine is so gutless and unrefined to begin with that it couldn't take the added power. Now, a Corolla or Scion engine could handle the pressure, but it'd take a lot of engineering and electronics to make it happen.

 

"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

 

uhhhhhh, its a P R I U S. Its not a sports car, ECONOMY=S L O W. Just get another car dude and make it something with some balls. You can buy an old foxbody 5.0 mustang for like 1500 bucks now a days. Or do like I did and get a first Gen Audi S4. Thats 0-60 in 6.1 and mine does it in 5.3 running at 21 lbs of boost. Anyway the prius is a great economy car but a horrible choice for performance. The tires are so damn skinny and the suspension sucks balls. Its all plastic!!!

 

Should you insist on more HP in a Gen II Prius, the Echo engine is the Otto cycle version of the Prius engine. Toyota NZ engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It gets 110 HP, up from 76 HP.

In the GenIII The Otto cycle engine has 134 HP up from 98 HP in a stock prius. Toyota ZR engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A wrecked Matrix or Vibe should be a good donor car.

Both these engines will use the same lower end as the respective Prius engine, so it should be a easy mod, not requiring more underhood space.

 

Seems like nitrous would be the way to go if you're only looking to boost performance but not lose MPG. However, the long term effects on a motor that small with the tight tolerances it already has could be a problem.

 

A TRD Prius? Thats cool!

 

Better prius performance --change the engine/electric motors management system to use more of what is already there . From toyoland.com

--The electric drive is a permanent-magnet design that requires little maintenance as its internal componentry never wears. It produces its maximum power of 33 kW (44 horsepower) from 1,040-5,600 rpm, and maximum torque of 350 N-m (258 lb./ft.) from 0-400 rpm.--

I don't feel 258 lb/ft when I floor it from a stop. Gen III may have a Power mode-an improvement though I've not driven one- I'd like programming like that for my 04 (that's legit of course) . Are there gearing issues?

 

for a forum of "car enthusiasts" there sure isn't much car knowledge here...

there are aftermarket turbo kits, including that for the 05-09 mustang, that feature the turbo remotely mounted near the rear of the car where space is more readily available than under the hood.

a turbo is designed to make more power with less effort, delivering an appropriate amount of fuel to air ratio as in a normally aspirated ICE. fueling is only upped as an added element to internally cool the ICE under high boost applications. a properly tuned turbo motor can produce more power more efficiently than that same N.A. motor. if you'd take some time from your blind critism to read the autospeed article and se that they actually received better fuel economy WHILE having increased power.

thank you for being educated and stating facts. :thumb: i think the concern with a lot of owners, as it is my main concern as well, is what happens when the "supplemental" battery is momentarily exhausted and you are s.o.l.? a properly tuned low boost turbo application would be a great benefit and prevent any electrical power loss concerns.

i don't think the goal is maximum power, but more maximum efficiency with out compromise or consequence.

i support your quest for knowledge!!! :rockon:

economy = slow
effiency /= slow
there is a way to "have your cake and eat it too" and its called a turbocharger

now, before i get flamed by a bunch of hybrid drivers with ill-conceived notions, here are my credentials. I USED TO BUILT AND SERVICE TURBOCHARGERS FOR A LIVING. that includes everything from - cars, trucks, semis, boats, desiel generators, trains, planes and ships. i'm not claiming to be an expert tuner, but i do know how they work much more than your average import enthusiast. take my comments for what they're worth.

 

And you are here to save us?

It works now that the system has had the bugs worked out but it does not even begin to compare to a front mount kit.

But you forgot about cost and complexity......

Great but hoping onto a forum and assuming a puffed-chest posture of arrogance will ensure that your knowledge goes unheard when no one can stand to "listen" to you. A bit more friendliness is what is needed here.

 

I went to grab my pop corn but I figure id throw in some knowledge.

I personally know a prius owner who has turbo'd their prius. Not really for performance but to help add more air to his hydrogen fuel supply. He gets more power and better fuel efficiancy. Win win.

And just fyi there is lots of room for a turbo and intercooler

 

Wait, what?

 

So how many of these turbos did you install on atkinson cycle engines? I think youhave some ill-conceived notions of your own. I'll take your comments exactly for what they're worth.

 

I saw that too but gave the guy a bit of time to go back and edit the post before I responded, however, I don't think he realized his mistake. lol

 

Myself and a co-worker have been working on a turbo install for almost a year now. Unfortunately we're still acquiring parts. A family illness has hindered my efforts for almost 6 months, and even made me question whether or not I wanted to continue with the project or not. I have done suspension mods to the car which I'm happy to see is becoming more common here. I just installed a Gen 1 inverter radiator yesterday to my vehicle to aid in cooling during autocross. Will post pics if anyone is interested.

Oh and for the OP, never run mine in a 1/4 mile but have run in the 1/8th mile and the Prius will consistently run low 11's in the 1/8th.

 

Well dang, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I was doing more research and its good and bad. I guess these turbo'd hydrogen prius's dont live up too there expectations when you add hydrogen to the mix. Now throw hydrogen out the window and keep the turbo

 

Well I'll eat my words. Humble Pie is good for everyone now and then.

Since when has Vince Vaughn been interested in alternative fuel cars? lol

 

Hi all the cheapest and eases way to improve the output is to change the inlet cam shape . So as we all know the inlet closing is late on a prius ,this is to reduce the dynamic compression stroke but also reduces the volume 1495 cc down to 800 cc.But by regrinding the lobes on only one of the inlet valves per cylinder to close early all the advantages of a higher compression is possible eg. the volume of expelled mix is reduced out of the cylinders at a higher rev this means the volume in the cylinders goes up to 1000 cc or more and this mean greater HP gains, at the lower revs the condition is not as active as the mix still exits the cylinders . This has been very successful on my 2006 and i am currently looking to buy the 2009 to improver the performance ps better tyres are a must recommending C-Drive 2 .

 

so you have installed a reground cam in your engine? I have wondered about that, and whether the ecu would freakout over it. that does seem like the best way to increase power. I did read about a supercharged prius that got better mileage and quicker charging of the hybrid battery but not much better performance.

please tell us more about the reground cam.

 

It been a time but I have my 1800cc Prius I-tech .replaced the 16 " wheels with 17" Subaru wheels .looks great , did the mod on the any time rear view camera . Now for the engine mods.investigating the electric turbo 1st . with 2 to 3 psi boost . looking to pigy-back off the compressor main DC input . will get back to cam modification after checking out the rollers and cam surfaces as the 1zz engine had bucket.