Featured Toyota Prius sales have tanked, 4 reasons why

The 42-46 MPH limit was removed through a higher MG1 rev limit, not the one-way clutch.

In fact, the Gen 4 Liftback's engine off speed is no longer limited by MG1, but rather by cooling - it needs the engine to run the transmission oil pump, so it's artificially limited to somewhere between 68 and 73 MPH with the engine off. With the Prime's electric pump, it could mechanically do over 90 MPH (taller gearing than the Prime) without exceeding the MG1 limits.

 

I would have expected that pump to be electrical since the engine has no belt.

 

It's inside the transmission, driven off of the input shaft on the Liftback, but electric on the Prime.

 

It is low power and low speed. It would have disappointed most looking for AWD in the US; leaving a negative impression.

 

The ~160 hp that I expect this system to have just isn't enough for a hot hatch, though.

I could see it making sense for a warm trim of the Auris, but to actually make a hot trim, they'd have to put the 2.5 from the Camry in there.

 

Hot hatch sounds better than tepid hatch though.

 

Note that in the Auris's class in Europe, 160 hp is at the higher end of what's not considered a hot hatch. You'll have a tier around 75-125 hp, a tier around 140-180 hp, and then hot hatches starting around 200-270 hp, with another class above that at 290+ hp.

Meanwhile in the US, it's right in what's considered normal hatch power, with the current Corolla iM's 140 hp being pretty low. (The two tiers of hot hatch are a thing here though.)

 

B4 reading this thread
I watched the another of the D-4S (5) videos and wondered what vehicle it was destined for.

caution: the video linked moves kinda fast and audio track is from a highly dramatic move scene.

There is a slower paced video on that channel that emphases the electrically powered computer controlled devices
that help reduce emission conditions
The other video also explains some of the reasons for efficient fuel use, as well as reduced losses in 5 categories,

 

I agree with all four. Much more options available to buy now. Plus, the stigma of the name "Prius" carries can be passed over by buying the alternative.

 

Not having a Gen-4 Prius but a Prime, I'll have to hold off on the MG1 forced, engine ON threshold. The 41-46 mph boundary was in our old Gen-3 and in the Prime, I can not 'defeat' the one-way clutch. Just I'll share that since the Gen-1, the usual suspects who hung out in 'Prius Technical Stuff' coveted an MG1 clutch. No one had proposed the Prime one-way clutch that turned out to be a very clever solution.

The SAE paper on the transmission discusses the sling cooling that apparently provides plenty for EV operation. My transmission oil study shows the oil isn't stressed beyond some initial manufacturing debris. As for that electric, transmission oil pump, it looks to just to pass the oil through the engine coolant heat exchanger. I would expect it on the Gen-4 Prius but don't have one to check.

Bob Wilson

 

That 1.8 litre is different in the current Auris from the 1.8 HSD (2015-) in the 4Gen Prius and the C-HR. The current Auris still features the 2009-2015 version, like the CT200h.

 

I mean, it'd add weight, but there's been plenty of warm and hot compacts using ~2.5 liter 4-cylinders, including some Toyotas.

The previous-generation US-market Matrix/Corolla XRS had the 2.4 liter 2AZ-FE.
The Mazda3 has a 2.5 liter currently (although that 2.5 hasn't made it to Europe except in the CX-5 for fuel economy reasons, I believe) and has previously had a 2.3 liter even in Europe.
The 2005-2007 Focus ST had a 2.3 liter.
The second-gen European Focus ST and RS had a 2.5 liter turbo I5.
It wasn't that long ago that Golf GTIs even had 2.8 liter iron pigs of VR6s in the nose. (That really did hurt handling.)

 

It's not just the engine size, it's the whole hybrid system including bigger battery that wouldn't fit in Auris/Corolla. Current Auris has the battery under the rear seat, same as Gen4 Prius, the new battery in 2.0 hybrid will be just a little bit bigger so it will probably fit in the same place.

 

That is certainly a concern, although given that, IIRC, the Li-ion packs are smaller, maybe the Camry Li-ion pack would fit? There's not that much width difference...

 

Battery power/weight ratios are getting better and better .... as well as cost per kwh.
.

 

In a time of exploding SUV/CRV sales, maybe it wasn’t a good time to slightly lower the Gen-4/Prime.

Bob Wilson

 

Note that the US isn't the world, though, and AFAIK Japanese sales are compensating for American sales.

Also consider that a gas price spike will cause people to panic and buy Prii again.