The Secret Prius Prime

I did not realize @Snoopy had a Prime

 

I can confirm that is true. Since trying to find this car in Chicagoland was next to non-existent, I ended up taking a red eye to New Jersey, bought the car and drove back home. I’ve had it now for 3 weeks and was worth the trip!

 

Both of my local dealers only have four Prii on their lots and no Prime.

 

I like the idea of a stretch Prius Prime! It brings to mind the day I arrived at the Austin Texas airport about 3 years ago. I called my hotel for a ride, and they picked my up in a stretch Leaf! The driver told me that the hotel special ordered the car from Nissan, and he thought it was one of a kind. Maybe Toyota could solve the 2-passenger rear seat limitation the same way!

 

For those of you who want a Prime coupe: it exists and is marketed as a hybrid sports/supercar. It's called the Honda NSX.



I was inclined to pick one up, but all the local dealers wanted 20k over MSRP and they mandated that you option the car with the carbon-ceramic brakes (which are nice, but fairly pricy).

 

Honda licensed Toyota's Gen 4 HSD? If not, it is no Prime!

 

$14,000 for replacement on a Vette.

 

They last pretty long, but that's consistent with the pricing I see for the new NSX. Each front rotor is about $4k discounted and the rear is about 3.

I think you're reaching quite a bit when it comes to pricing out how much that Insight concept would have cost: The Alfa Romeo 4C exemplifies what a small, lightweight two-seater with extensive use of CF and a carbon tub (complying with current safety regs) can be made for, and they retail at about $65k. Keep in mind that this doesn't even include the cost of a hybrid system. Altogether, you're probably talking about a $70-80k Toyota - that's Luxury-status-symbol money, and people end up buying Porsches and Teslas. I think the only exception that I can think of is the Nissan GT-R, and that's a car with a long (and interestingly sordid; see Motorex) history with a huge number of enthusiasts.

Also, unfortunately Americans are flocking to SUVs in record numbers. If we're talking Toyota specifically; for the first time ever, in 2017 the RAV4 outsold the Camry (although the fact that 2017 was the end of the Camry generation). More broadly, American automakers are to some extent abandoning sedans. Hell, Toyota is thinking of trimming their car lineup in favor of SUVs and Trucks, which have So. Much. Margin.

All that said, I really don't think your average (70.7% of Americans 20+ are overweight or obese) American is going to even fit in a modern Lotus - I'm thinking the Evora here, won't even mention the Elise/Exige (which I have a bit of a love affair with).

 

We bought almost a year ago, I stopped into the local NC stealership(SEToyota) for BSM at that time, and the sales manager came running out and asked "where did you get this car, we've been trying for months to get one?". I told him about the journey up North, and discussed Jim Moran Enterprises, in which he was well versed. Now almost a year later, I stopped in again for touch up paint, and what do you know, there right in center front of the stealership sat a Prime Advanced. The service manager, a very competent guy said it came directly from Toyota, not another dealer, and the window sticker supported this. Of course he told me they had a buyer on day one, but management refuses to sell it?? Marketing and selling this car is a dark hole.

 

I think that was what was supposed to happen at my nearest dealer. But they went ahead and sold it anyway. Then, I guess they managed to sell another one, but I think it was probably special ordered.