Prius Prime Questions

@GT4Prius I agree with you that using it on a regular basis and not only when necessary is not recommended but only due to MPG hit.
As I pointed out several posts above, there are very special circumstances where using EV (with or without the button) can lead to slightly better MPG (but then I assume it can be called necessary).

 

Stupid questions from me:

1) this seems to be a Prius killer.. it has a federal incentive and some state incentive.. why make this?
2) is it slower? I read a max speed of 87MPH. is that for both gas and electric?
3) does the gas engine just charge the battery or does gas engine drive as well on highways?
4) anyone thinks there will a C-HR prime as well?

 

If someone is going to cannibalize your market, it had better be you.

No, it's 84mph maximum in Ev mode, after which it will switch to Hv mode.

It's the same basic power train as the standard Prius, just with a bigger battery and a sprag clutch to allow both motors to work in Ev mode. It can be in either Ev or Hv mode at any speed under 84mph depending on state of battery charge.

No idea.

 

there are a lot of people who won't want prime, even at the low prices.
1) can't take advantage of the tax credits
2) need 5 seats
3) can't plug in
4) prefer the roomier hatch
5)like one of the lift back packages not available in prime.
i don't think it's going to be a huge issue.

 

Well, maybe in the long run the answer will be yes, but it will probably not be with the current iteration.

 

maybe by then, everything will be plug in. or it could happen that a 5 seat prime with a flat hatch will be more expensive.

 

would that really be a big issue tho? it's cheaper and have options for both. the only thing i can see that applies is seats.

 

you have to pay taxes in the current year to take credit. i think the hatch space will affect a lot of people. jmo, but i'm a die hard pip fan, and prime may not be my next car. not being able to, or caring about plugging in is a great reason not to tow a couple hundred extra pounds around.
what if you want 3 door sks? now you're out of the base pip.

 

That's the thing that confuses me most about Toyota, the way they group the options. The couple options you really want are in the expensive package, along with a bunch stuff you don't want, and no way to mix 'n' match. I understand it saves them money with a simpler assembly process, but you'd think with millions of people buying expensive cars that they'd figure out a way to please their loyal customers. Don't they have robots on the line? Can those robots not figure out this car gets 3 door SKS, the next 5 don't, so grab from Pile X this time but not the next 5 times????

 

it would be great, but i guess they make billions more packaging than they do trying to please loyal customers.

 

Yup, thus predator jaw front end and higher drag coefficient, higher cargo floor but not as much EV range as the competitors, etc. Sooner or later that approach is going to bite them in the nether regions. A great big predator bite ....

I really like the Prime, but the implementation is off just enough to make me consider waiting for other choices coming shortly.

 

agreed, it's touch and go.

 

Hey, I kind of like it!

 

Others have given reasons on why the Prime won't kill the Prius. I have one for why Toyota needs to sell it; the California Air Resource Board's ZEV program. For some manufacturers, the sale of BEVs or FCEVs won't be a high enough portion of their sales within the state. They need to pad the numbers with T(transitional)ZEVs. These can be an ICE car that runs on hydrogen, but odds are it will be a plug in hybrid a company will sell. Regular hybrids, and even PZEV traditional cars value ZEV program drop over time, and may not even be worth anything now.

 

Got to thinking about how to dress up the back end. The lower window reminds me of lips, so... Teeth!

Maybe tailgaters will think twice? (yeah, right)

 

Let the Photoshop modding begin!

Great images thus far.

 

Pricing is telling the story.
If this car will not be a success among plug-ins Toyota's interest in plug-ins may slowly die. If it is a success, we may not see a 5th generation of the standard prius.

 

Man, that is UGLY!

 

What, the teeth, the back end, both? I agree on all 3 counts....