Featured Hyundai IONIQ - Prius competitor?

Truth be told, I don't like the 'large mouth bass', sheet metal art. In a perfect world, the front of the car would have lights and nothing else.

Cooling air would come from just behind, under the front bumper and exhaust out the wheel wells and/or over the windshield. The rear wheels would have pants and I like moon caps. A perfect car for me would look extremely bland and aerodynamic. But I'm an engineer, mechanical engineering by training and attitude, so I look first at the guts.

Bob Wilson

 

I'm an architect, so there is the difference. But make no mistake, I care about the 'guts' as well .... I just want them enclosed in an attractive exterior. Appearances are a personal choice .... I acknowledge that, and do not criticize others choices in cars or women.

 

And I'm a software engineer and designer. Bob, are you saying you would have bought a prime over the BMW?

 

	Mandatory	2014 BMW i3-REx	Prius Prime	2016 Prius ECO (**)
1	120+ mile range	Yes	Yes	Yes
2	collision avoidance and dynamic cruise control	Yes	Yes	No
3	for sale	Yes	No	Yes
4	first model year a multi-year warranty	Yes	Yes	Yes

I can't buy a car not for sale in the Huntsville area and the 2016 Prius ECO does not have collision avoidance and dynamic cruise control. As for the 2017 Prius ECO, maybe but I'll have to check.

	optional	2014 BMW i3-REx	Prius Prime	2016 Prius ECO (**)
1	efficient (30%)
2	City	117 MPGe 72 mi (14%)	n/a	58 MPG (6%)
3	Hwy	40 MPG (4%)	n/a	53 MPG (6%)
4	power (25%)	168 hp (15%)	n/a	121 hp (10%)
5	tow capable rear wheels (20%)	Yes (15%)	n/a	No (5%)
6	1000 miles 24 hr (15%)	Yes (15%)	n/a	Yes (15%)
7	side cargo loading (10%)	Yes (10%)	n/a	No (0%)
8	score	73%	n/a	42%

* - all data from www.fueleconomy.gov on Dec. 17, 2016
** - the 2017 Prius ECO is available but the optional metrics are the same

I can't buy a Prius Prime or even evaluate it until we get some EPA metrics. Sorry, I don't do press release metrics. I would also observe that the IONIQ faces similar, optional capabilities to the 2016 Prius ECO: front wheel drive, and; ordinary rear door.

So ask me again when the Prius Prime metrics are available via the EPA. Then we could do a full-up, requirements analysis. Just I suspect we're not going to find a significant change in the outcome. The rumors suggest the Prius Prime MPGe for 25 miles will improve its efficiency score over the Prius ECO BUT the front wheel drive, power, and side-door loading would remain a problem.

The beauty of a requirements analysis with mandatory and optional, weighted requirements is we can fully explain the results. Obviously, my requirements may differ from others. So if someone has a family beyond a wife and two dogs, seats would become more important. People with less 'stuff' to haul around might not care about side door loading. Towing is not a universal requirement. But I can explain what works for our family.

Bob Wilson

 

i just buy the car i like, but it does have to be for sale. worked out okay for 45 years.

 

I'm a geologist, so I'd like to save the planet. I buy the most efficient reliable car I can at a reasonable price that does the job I need it to.

 

Very impressive release from Hyundai.

Is there one combined info spot where we can read about all the known details as to how it achieved its stellar efficiency? And how they got rid of the 12v battery?

 

I can hardly wait until the summer of 2017 to see one.

Bob Wilson

 

2017 Kia Niro CUV Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Title for Lowest Fuel Consumption for a Hybrid Vehicle | CleanMPG

This thread details Wayne's world record cross country run in a Niro (Ioniq in CUV wrapper). Lots of info on the tech and driving techniques toax FE.

 

Direct injection and its high thermal efficiency allow it to frequently run at +70 mpg instantaneous (full acktinson mode) during low to moderate load and rpm conditions. It also glides (engine off, no regen, no battery assist) like it's in neutral. Apply those two features correctly your trip and tank mpg will go through the roof. It also sounds like the lithium polymer pack charges and discharges efficiently.

What would give me pause is the lost efficiency and cost of the direct injecrion foaling the cylinders.

 

Not coming to UK at all! Opel are going to produce a version, but for some reason best known to themselves, ONLY in let hand drive form. Got to love Europe!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

7 years ago...
https://priuschat.com/threads/new-world-record-challenge-over-50km-l-117mpg-tank.82510/

 

For a long time, I've known this is the right approach, to build these features into the car. Make efficient driving the default, not the exception that requires a different approach to driving.

I am not sure what "lost efficiency" is about. As for direct injection fouling, I suspect if done right, not a problem because combustion can be made to happen away from the cylinder and piston walls. The difficult part being avoiding high temperatures that lead to NOx formation.

Bob Wilson

 

lol...I was hoping to see a story about someone going cross country with a Prius at 117mpg. Are there any stories like that out there trumping the Niro?

 

Well, those 117mpg trips were home-to-work and back...A bit more realistic when compared to the cross country feat. IMHO.

 

Like my personal best: Efficient driving for a 1,000 mile tank | PriusChat

The thing I complain about, even this morning, is that d*mn "creep" at a stop and built-in "drag" when you take your foot off. These are control laws built into our computer operated cars. Of all mods, I've long seen these two as 'low hanging fruit' which would mean even my non-technical wife could achieve outstanding MPG. Just another old man rant against a useless, man-made irritation in life.

Bob Wilson

 

Bob, iirc, even a handful of the Gen 2 Prius managed 1,000 Mile tanks - but iirc, unlike our U.S. Prius version, they had non bladder/bigger tanks. In any event, the mileage feet (in japan) would necessarily require getting 85 MPG or better. Even so, us U.S. folks could really stretch some range out of that puny bladder;

Most of that was done pre-dawn around 30mph but man, at that speed it takes a whole lot of time & patience (& a bit of OCD) to burn through a tankful.

.

 

where can i buy one?

 

How about a nice Lexus all wheel drive fuel sipping SUV hybrid instead .....

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I started a separate thread on that in the Other Cars forum.

There is also dual cooling loops for the engine to keep part warmer for better efficiency.

Direct injection has improved the injection controls from when the first generations came out over a decade or so ago.

I'd blame Brexit.
Are you getting the Niro?

Gerdes was one of the drivers of that too.

It was more they found an open course that favored the gen2 Prius' strengths, and drove it over nearly a day until they ran out of gas.

On Lincolns, Ford has gotten the the hill start assist function to the point where you can take your foot off the brake pedal at a stop. We could see the creep gone on their next hybrid, whatever it is.