4th generation coming 2015!

That is *EXACTLY* what know your audience was intended to say.

It started with early adaptors, then later expanded to those with an express interest in higher efficiency.

This next round reaches out to a totally different group of people... those who would otherwise purchase a Corolla or Camry.

Each milestone is breaking new ground, penetrating deeper into middle-market.

 

But if Toyota keeps going on the goofy path with Prius interior and makes it so much about MPGs, MPGs, they will never hit the 'bigger leagues' in sales of 20k+ a month for the liftback.

I think Toyota still sells a Five w/ Adv tech package that exceeds $35k sticker.

I stopped by Fremont Acura just to see the new TLX (starts at $32k sticker) and they suggested I test drive it. TLX interior, the whole of it is in an entirely better league. It's like the Prius is sort of pretending to be well laid out and well finished. Prius' low, hard door armrests, cupholder where an armrest should extend to, small dead pedal, hard grainy plastics everywhere, sandpaper texture on base steering wheel, comical dr. seat to steering wheel position in extreme tall adjustment, USB port stuffed down under center armrest, plastic wheelcovers that are difficult to remove (and they cracked one of them 6 mos ago, i called them on it, they replaced), no map pockets in doors, ... is Toyota patting themselves on the back for this?

other day was in hurry to work, man this thing is not so well composed around corners. Maybe the green tires bring it down a lot. Seems top heavy. Low Cd but high CoG.

Got a Camry SE rental to head back home during 30k service. There's just something about it, offputting.

I understand Toyota is well aware of their lack of kudos from driving enthusiasts and are seeking to turn the tide with the '15 Camry. I hope they have some success with that 'cause it sucks to see the king of hybrids have such an 'applicance reputattion' from those who want a shred of enjoyment during the daily grind (and I'm not talking about drag racing from light to light).

 

I'm sure you know these journalists / enthusiasts get to drive very upscale, luxurious cars: BMWs, Audis, Acuras. These cars are laden with soft touch materials, precise control layouts, classic gauge position (seen through the steering wheel).
I wouldn't be surprised if many enthusiast/journalists get bored just sitting in, looking around in Prius without even driving it.

Honda has a principle, 'man maximum, machine minimum'. I don't think Toyota puts as much thought towards the driver in their cars. but they do make very reliable, safe cars at easy prices.

 

Toyota C-HR hybrid crossover coupe concept leak ahead of Paris - Autoblog

 

Well there was some news on the web floating around saying execs and other dealers saw the Gen IV at a Last Vegas meeting?

Perhaps the Gen IV will indeed be shown this come November in LA.

Although the article specifically stated the execs are focusing for a strong sale of the Gen III until the end of the year - so maybe no Gen IV preview until Detroit next year. Not sure.

I can't find the article right now, but it's out there. Slowly, news is trickling in which I'm sure they don't want because they want to focus on one more year of Gen III

 

Hmm, your post got me to googling a little bit, since I'm wondering when they plan on debuting the Gen 4 prius too.

While the LA car show in November would be a no-brainer, due to the prius being very popular in California, I don't think they'll show it here, partly because they probably still want a few more months to do some final last minute tweaking to wring some more mpgs out. Plus it would kill 2015 prius sales, since a lot of people will simply wait for the Gen 4 to come out.

Some quick wikipedia-ing shows that the Detroit show in January 2015 is most likely when the Gen 4 will make its debut. That's also the show they debuted the Gen 3, along with the c and v.

What will make me keep an eye on this show is that GM is supposed to talk about the Gen 2 Volt as well.

On a related note, I hope they discuss the gen 2 PiP as well, and if it's going nationwide, or if it's still relegated to 15 states. If they do that again, I might just get a volt, c-max energi, or the $35k Tesla.

 

Why would there be any reason to think gen-2 of the plug-in would be limited?

There's a long list of reasons for gen-1, primarily the entire plug-in market struggling...

 

I think Toyota's got a very nice car with the plug-in Prius. The only downside for me, and I really hope they adress it, but not holding my breath: the lack of a temporary spare. Other than that:

Here's a car that can achieve double the mpg of a regular Prius, without breathing hard. Charge time a very easy 2~3 hours, with 110 volt. And there's no range anxiety: you're not calling the tow company at 100 miles, or having a precipitous drop in mpg when the gas engine fires up, like the Volt. What's not to like.

Yeah, the spare...

 

not sure if this was posted here before. I apologize if it has (just don't have the time to back thru several posts to check):

60 mpg Eco grade?

Next Toyota Prius coming in 60-mpg 'Eco Grade' version?

 

In the original autonews article, the new body is described as more streamlined and sportier to attract mainstream buyers. This would also help compete against clean diesel (TDI), which is an attractive alternative on the highway.

 

^ It is more-or-less the slipperiest car on the road already. I'd guess "streamlined" is in the cosmetic sense.

 

60 mpg means the computer reads 66 mpg with 60.0 mpg being what you actually get.

I can drive like an 80 yr old and get 60 mpg actual with the Gen III, but presumably with the Gen IV, you could drive a little more normal and get your 60 mpg. But really who cares? 100,000 miles needs 2000 gallons with Gen III and 1667 gallons with the Gen IV, vs 5000 gallons with a 20 mpg car - so 3000 gallons saved vs 3333 gallons saved - yawner f or me.

 

I don't care about the temporary spare as I feel I can deal with a flat. What I'd like to see is better cabin material that doesn't shake loose and rattle. But that discussion is for another forum.

 

There is nothing clean about any clean diesel on any road(City or Hwy). The latest clean diesel design puts out 400% more pollution than the Prius. Stinky Diesels should not be held in the same breath (of Air, pun intended) as a PZEV Prius.

 

A friend of mine works for Toyota hq Torrence branch. The only thing he could tell me with out jeopardizing his job was. "Better mpg with a way more aggressive visual look."

 

No doubt you're right, but market surveys have shown that the average consumer cares most about MPG, and relatively little about smog.

 

According to test data from EPA (Test Car List Data Files | Cars and Light Trucks | US EPA), the regulated emissions from a 2014 BMW 328d xDrive (diesel) are actually quite close to the emissions of a 2014 Prius in both the FTP (city) and highway duty cycles...


(Grams/Mile)

Emission.............................328d.................................Prius

NMOG+NOx (FTP)............0.0133..............................0.0063
NMOG+NOx (HWY)..........0.001................................0.002
CO (FTP)............................0.028................................0.036
CO (HWY)..........................0.007................................0.027
PM (FTP)...........................0.000327..........................Not Tested
PM (HWY).........................0.0000579........................Not Tested

 

Well its always interesting to me because they are actually starting to do what they should have done decades ago. To me, the 2010 was the 1st Prius that actually incorporated the changes they should have done in Gen1 (beltless ICE). Now Honda's 2 and 3 motor hybrids is incorporating another step i always felt should have been done over a decade ago (series hybrid with totally decoupled ICE at low to medium speed, ICE drive at highway). The Gen4 i hope will do something about that and add more serious aerodynamic wringing to finally come where it should have been at the start of this century.

 

Toyota engineering is (apparently) just following the old adage: "...journey of thousand miles begins with single step(s)..."

 

The entire industry *should* have been doing far more decades ago. Some automakers still aren't.

How long have they been saying simple things like start-stop will be available soon?