Toyota Prius c: 53 MPG city / 46 MPG Hwy; Under $19,000

Denmark is part of EU and uses km/l. With the efficient cars coming out, fuel economy is measured more precisely in mpg and km/l than l/100 km because the countries seem to only use a single decimal. (33.3km/l vs 3.0 l/100 km)
I really don't get the obsession with l/100km of mainland Europe.

 

I'm a little bummed with the 46 MPG highway figure. Hopefully, someway that will be revised to at least 48.

I don't think these buyers will have road trippin much in mind, more like bumping around SF for night life or SLT.

City fuel economy 53 ... that's pretty bangin! What does a Yaris pull in city, 32? city figure will be ace in the hole.

Ok, so USB, BT, but Remote keyless ... ah well, what they don't know won't hurt 'em (SKS is a must, for me anyway

Good to hear they are optimizing handling as this crowd will want some of that.

It is a sharp looking little car though, and that's brownie points.

 

Hmmm , steel wheel, heavier? , lower FE, must keep cost down.

"The 15-inch wheels are available in steel with wheel cover for base model or in aluminum alloy for elevated trim levels"

Not to knock it, just curious. Car looks good though. It will be a strong seller.

Insight's in bigger trouble.

 

That design just makes me think "waste of space."

I think Toyota has it nailed with small joysticks.

 

Glad to see another gear-head say that. Even the Toyota website says: "We are maintaining our pace for developing advanced technologies and exploring many technology options for future mobility. "

Has HSD hit the efficiency wall? These last two prius model specs seem to point to a yes direction.

 

As a rule of thumb, HSD fuel economy can be no better than peak ICE BSFC. This is why Toyota's main R&D is towards ICE direct injection (DI). In the lab they are hitting 45% thermo efficiency. That will be good for a 20% improvement in overall fuel economy.

I for one think Toyota is absolutely right if focusing on lowering the cost of HSD rather than trying to narrow the current gap between peak and average BSFC we currently have.

 

It sounds like Toyota's Prius c is tuned to be a low cost fuel efficient metro car with most of its torque at speeds under 35 mph. The c will get better MPG than the hatchback in an urban only settings OR/AND when top speed is under 35 mph.

 

If Toyota wanted to bring a more affordable hybrid option, why not re-issued the Gen II since they are using what sounds to be the same drive train? It gets about the same overall mpg's.

All the engineering molds, machining, suppliers, etc., are done and paid for. Just give it some updated minor head/tail light styling tweaks, different paint colors and reissue it under the "ICON" badge/marketing for $18-19 large.

 

You could say the same for the G3.

In 2002 the G1 Prius sold for US $20k, and it is unlikely Toyota made a profit after marginal costs. 10 years later, there has been ~ 50% worldwide inflation, and around a 20% weakening of the dollar compared to the yen. So Toyota has decreased the price by 45% compared to 2002, while offering a vastly improved car.

Pretty damned amazing

 

If you are replying to post #88, you do know the G3 is still in production?

My "great idea" isn't mine, some motorcycle manufacturers do precisely what I described.

 

Yen to US Dollar:
January 2008 average: [SIZE=-1]107.944[/SIZE]
Now: [SIZE=-1]76.8192[/SIZE]

While it's forwards and backwards, they are achieving the mileage while significantly reducing both the battery capacity and the motor sizes: that's where they're able significantly to cut the cost of the vehicle despite the strong yen.

 

Why yes, I do.

That was the point

 

So you do know how to use the reply button correctly, just not every time.

Sorry, what is your point?

 

Are you referring to the garbage html that past posts had appended ? I never figured out why it happens, but Tony came up with a way for me to delete it.

Whoosh

 

it is just question of cost... Valvematic, Direct Injection, Turbo/SC, Lion batteries, more expensive materials to lower the weight, etc.... all together can bring probably 60 MPG EPA hybrid.

But who is going to pay $25k for it? I wont.

 

A german car magazine allready drove the new powertrain which is used in Prius c and Yarys Hybrid and said that surprisingly the engine dosn´t tend to rev up like it does in other Toyota Hybrids if you put your foot down !
A Dutch magazine claims the same !
So obviously they have changed something and i hope they did same thing with the upcoming 2012 Prius !

 

This could be done in a software update for older Prius, but obviously Toyota won't do it

 

Like Sagebrush alluded to, once you get over 45mpg the savings in fuel cost become fairly insignificant. Once over 50mpg the savings really dwindle such that it takes large jumps to be worthwhile to pursue. This is we're the alternative measure of gallons per 100 miles clears things up. The difference between 50 and 55mpg is about $2 over the course of a tank (400miles).

 

When Gen3 came out Prius I (One) was designed as a Insight fighter, just in case if Insight is competitive. The cost cutting features included no cruise and steel wheels. Very few Ones were sold, and only to fleet operators (o'k some were sold to public when demand was short after tsunami).

My guess we will not see that many base Prius C sold, and they won't be generally available.

 

you would have to pitch fuel savings vs amortization. Prius C will retain price similar to regular Prius. Kelly blue book suggests 1/3 price loss on Prii; your fuel/maintenance savings would have to account to 6K. Not likely since per fueleconomy.gov at 30K annual Prius would save ~$1,400 over Corolla in fuel.

You'll have to keep C for 5-6 years to make it worthwhile. The only other way you save if you have expensive repairs coming on Corolla.