Does Toyota plan to make a better Prius after the 2012 PHV?

In the next 3 years? Maybe.

Most cars tend to be on a ~4-6 year cycle per generation. If you look at http://john1701a.com/prius/images/Prius-Generations.png, and ignore Original (NHW10, which the US never got), classic covered model year 01-03, iconic was model year 04-09 and 3rd gen is 2010 and 2011 so far.

3rd gen Prius was unveiled in Detroit in January 09 but not available for sale until ~May 09. First confirmed NA owner was at http://priuschat.com/news/first-confirmed-north-american-2010-prius-owner.

Toyota Corolla History and Toyota Camry History might be useful data points but I'm not sure how up to date they are now.

 

Define 'better'. Do you mean will the next Prius be an improvement on the existing one or do you mean will the next Prius suit your personal requirements better than the existing one?

I'm sure like all manufacturers there will be improvements on future Prii. Each new model of Prius has sold more than the one it replaced and I can only assume the future gen4 Prius will have improvements and features in addition to the exisiting car. Whether these improvements suit your personal requirements is unknown.

 

well 3 years is very long time, considering average car lasts for 5-6 years... so if you wait for 4 years, there will probably be new Prius then...

... but if you wait for 10 years, there will be new new Prius!!!!

 

Right NOW, the Prius is so much ahead of the competition that I don't know what one would want more in a "new" Prius ?!

If/when something come close... then I might be interested in waiting a year or two to get the next best thing. But right now they aren't any competition

Of course of definition of "better" would help

 

My initial thought in reading the heading was ... of course Toyota will produce a better Prius in the future. The automotive arena is competitive now, and will become more-so. There will be continued evolution of materials, technology, battery cemistry and etc ... if not, any manufacturer will be out of buisness quickly.

He who waits for the latest, most up-to-date product (any product) will never make a purchase, for innovations are occurring faster than you can maintain the "latest." Mt wife bought a droid (cell-phone). Within one month from introduction, there was a newer and better phone from Samsung, followed quickly by Apple .... Do your research, read everything available, test drive, make the best deal possible .... buy and drive the heck out of it, enjoying every minute. I bought a new RX-7 .... saved it, never parked it in public, never drove in bad weather and on and on .... the man that bought it from me acquired an absolutely "perfect" car .. almost new. He got the better deal than I.

 

No, the 2013 Prius will certainly be a third gen. 2014 at earliest I'd guess, maybe longer.

 

The fourth generation Prius will be better than the third in some ways and worse in others, just as the third generation is both better and worse than the second.

 

Worse? Sure with personal preferences. Not with the hybrid system itself.
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Of course, Toyota is known for Kaizen.

 

I think any automaker "plans" on continued improvement. The Prius, and HSD is such a paramount of technology that improvement could be based on any number of potential advancement in any number of different technologies or combination of technologies.

As far as auto's go....your fishing in a running river...not a lake...

 

Gen 4 will most likely be available in October 2014. Of course it will be better. Batteries will be lithium, and plug in should be standard. If you're not buying one in the next year, you should wait.

 

Reducing product diversity like that doesn't make sense, especially since so many don't have an outlet available to plug into. Offering the plug as a package option is good for business in a variety of ways.

Keeping that as an affordable choice gives consumers the opportunity to decide for themselves, letting the demand speak for itself.

Remember, there still must be a way of phasing out traditional vehicles.
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we are definitely not going forward THAT fast... they also have to make money on previous R&D as well, so you cant have "news" every year.

 

Yeah especially with not 1 but 3 new models coming out around that time frame.

 

My predictions for Gen 4 improvements

Estimated MPG: 56 City, 53 Highway, 55 Combined

HSD Improvements:
Transition to Lithium for Cordless Prius (Remains NiMH for Yaris HSD and Prius C)
More efficient ICE
Higher Voltages
Higher EV Speeds
More EV Power
Geared MG1

Wider & Lower Stance
Better Handling
Better Cornering
More Horsepower
Narrower A-Pillar

Fully Flat Folding Rear Seats
Sliding Rear Bench
Split Rear Hatch (half folds up, half folds down for a tailgate -- increases utility)

Improved Aerodynamics:
Lower Front Lip
Smoother under-panel
Active Shuttered Grill

Disable Fake Creep Option
Disable Fake Drag Option

Semi-Needless Newfangled Over-hyped Hi-Tech Options (because the Prius always needs this)
Camera Based Side View Mirrors
Electric Window Tint
Stirling Engine Heat Recovery
Active Rear Wheel Skirts
A Solar Panel that actually charges the HV battery
Carbon Fiber Composite Hood

PS - Please don't take this post seriously

 

At what cost?

 

I'm more inclined to believe the differences between a Prius 2, 3, 4 or 5 will disappear. I think the Prius c may upstage the Prius 2 or 3 at the low end, the CT and Prius v at the high end, so the Prius "levels" may disappear. Might be just a Prius and a Prius Advanced, which may include the Lion battery. I like simplicity so ....

Sorry just thinking aloud. :loco: