Prime is longer than a standard Prius.

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by padroo, Jan 30, 2018.

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  1. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    #1 padroo, Jan 30, 2018
  2. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    A little more overhang. Same wheelbase.
     
    #2 Lee Jay, Jan 30, 2018
  3. bat4255

    bat4255 2017 Prius v #2 and 2008 Gen II #2

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    Maybe a design consideration for the extra batteries?
     
    #3 bat4255, Jan 30, 2018
  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    #4 padroo, Jan 30, 2018
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...also thought the rear hatch door of carbon fiber construction was wider
     
    #5 wjtracy, Jan 30, 2018
  6. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    It very well could be wider. An inch or two doesn't sound like much but it is a really big deal in cars.
     
    #6 padroo, Jan 30, 2018
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Is it? Wouldn't that require a change in the rear body panels? (or maybe the taillights are thinner in design than that of the Z-shaped Gen 4 so that's where the extra space went...)

    But yes, the Prime is longer to accommodate the battery and for the design of the car.

    While I appreciate the compact dimensions of the Gen 2 and 3 designs, they were definitely limited in their design cues and required a sharp nose to accommodate the length of the car. On the Prime and Gen 4, they can smooth out the slope a touch.

    The Prime is a total of 6" longer than the Gen 3 or about the length of a Prius v. Some of that is to accommodate the style that the designer wanted on the Prime.
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Jan 30, 2018
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  8. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    Size matters.
     
    #8 huskers, Jan 30, 2018
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  9. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    There is also the consideration of additional crash protection crumple zone in the rear of the Prime due to the increased battery volume/energy vs. the Gen4.
     
    #9 DavidA, Jan 30, 2018
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  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I forget but I sort of convinced myself re: Cargo space that on the inside there is not much more cargo length in the hatch of the Prime
     
    #10 wjtracy, Jan 30, 2018
  11. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    ^ The thickness of the bottom of the hatch erases any total length that is gained. Also, the top glass indentation reduces the length higher up.
     
    #11 DavidA, Jan 30, 2018
  12. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    Open the back hatch, push it up and look at the bottom.

    Thar sucker is thick. I guess that carbon fiber needs the thickness ?
     
    #12 I'mJp, Jan 30, 2018
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good things come in small packages.
     
    #13 bisco, Jan 30, 2018
  14. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Should I tell you that it isn't even carbon fiber?
     
    #14 DavidA, Jan 30, 2018
  15. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah but supposedly the width is there to fit a set of golf clubs (I think with the golf bag).

    Well the bumper is thick too so I think it goes hand-in-hand. Can't tell if it's thick because of the CF or if it's because of the design of the rear end.

    Carbon fibre reinforced plastic.... yes..
     
    #15 Tideland Prius, Jan 31, 2018
  16. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    It is some sort of fiber. The carbon content % is suspect but probable. The carbon fiber look is a plastic look-alike overlay.

    There is a close-up photo of the not-carbon-fiber overlay at 10:25 in with this episode of What Drives Us. A quick look from a distance and you might say it is classic CF. An actual close inspection shows that it isn't. Tap the dark portion of the hatch from the inside with your knuckles or fingernails and compare against another large object that you know is real (and expensive) CF with built up layers. Not the same sound or feeling at all. I wonder how much weight they are really saving? The marketing department is likely spinning up a feature and benefit there. I would call the hatch more plastic-something than fiber-something.
     
    #16 DavidA, Jan 31, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2018
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Again, the actual name of the material used in the Prime is "CFRP" - carbon fibre reinforced plastic. Yes it's not the layers upon layer of carbon fibre material woven into a cloth like the LFA or McLarens. It's similar to the i3.

    It saves 8 pounds over the aluminium hatch of equal design.
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Jan 31, 2018
  18. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    And that is why the Prime should have just been installed to the Prius v
     
    #18 Rmay635703, Jan 31, 2018
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Can't - weight limits for the chassis.

    It's one or the other (the v and Prime weigh almost the same with the Prime about 50-70kg heavier). Add the "v" bodystyle and you won't be able to carry much cargo before exceeding the cargo carrying capacity or resulting in poor vehicle performance.

    Basically, the v needs to be on the bigger platform for it to happen. (assuming Toyota has a TNGA platform between the Corolla and Camry size)
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Jan 31, 2018
  20. Since2002

    Since2002 Senior Lurker

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    Below are a couple of graphics that I created last year when this topic came up which shows the Prime and the liftback side by side.

    Comparing the specs on the two vehicles the length difference is 1 inch in front and 3.2 inches in rear, 4.2 inches total.

    Height/Width/Length

    Prime 57.9 69.3 182.9

    Liftback 58.1 69.3 178.7


    Overhang Front/Rear

    Prime 38.4 38.2

    Liftback 37.4 35.0


    Ground clearance

    Prime 4.8

    Liftback 5.1

    Here's a side-by-side that I made from the photos on the Toyota website. The Blue Magnetism is the Prime

    121577_Side_by_Side.jpg

    Here is a superposition. The little bit of Blue Magnetism that you see sticking out in the front and rear is the Prime.

    121578_Superposition.jpg
     
    #20 Since2002, Feb 1, 2018
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